Rice looting continues in Pontianak, Kebumen calm

Rice looting continues in Pontianak, Kebumen calm

JAKARTA (JP): Sporadic pillaging of rice and other basic
commodities from shops and warehouses continued to be reported on
Wednesday in and around the West Kalimantan capital of Pontianak.
The Central Java town of Kebumen, meanwhile, which saw massive
looting and vandalism earlier in the week, was gradually
returning to normal.

Reports said the pillaging was triggered mostly by people's
frustration over the skyrocketing prices of rice and other basic
commodities.

Pontianak military commander Col. Erwin Sudjono said 16 people
had been arrested following the looting of rice warehouses in
several towns (Wajo, Batulayang, Sei Pinyuh and Salatiga) on the
outskirts of Pontianak on Monday evening and Tuesday.

"The looting began Monday night and then the looters moved
closer to Pontianak. Several shops in Pontianak were looted this
(Wednesday) morning," Erwin was quoted by Antara as saying.

Erwin said the looting -- during which "hundreds" of metric
tons of rice were pillaged -- could have been engineered. He did
not elaborate.

Three residents contacted by The Jakarta Post also said that
lootings had taken place on Wednesday morning in Pontianak.

They said shops targeted were those selling basic commodities
in the Sentral market on Jl. H.O.S. Cokroaminoto. They said no
warehouses or shops were set on fire.

However, they said Pontianak was tense on Wednesday. Many
shops stayed closed out of owners' fear of violence and numerous
parents kept their children at home.

One Chinese-Indonesian resident, an employee at a private
company in Pontianak, said he skipped work on Wednesday to guard
his shop on Gg. 17 on Jl. Tanjungpura, one of the city's main
streets.

"It's really hopeless, the situation, the people are hungry,
rice is so expensive. It's OK if they loot the warehouses, but
not the small shops. It's all because of the damned rice
speculators," said another resident angrily.

A third resident said Pontianak was relatively safe thanks to
the province's indigenous Dayaks who had taken the initiative to
join the security forces in maintaining order in the city.

Antara reported Wednesday that mixed groups of Dayaks,
Madurese, Malays and Chinese voluntarily offered their services
to city residents to maintain security.

Residents have also increased their vigilance by intensifying
night patrols in their neighborhoods. Together with the security
forces, they were patrolling the city, the news agency and
residents said.

The news agency also reported on Wednesday, quoting Pontianak
police spokesman Capt. Suhadi, that two days of rice looting at
two warehouses in the town of Sintan in Pontianak regency
resulted in the loss of 80 tons of rice and 40 tons of sugar.

In a related development in Pontianak, hundreds of Tanjungpura
University students demonstrated outside the West Kalimantan
governor's office, demanding lower prices of rice and basic
commodities as soon as possible.

The government's failure to lower prices of basic essentials
has been criticized sporadically over the last few weeks.
Protesters have warned that if the rice price remains unchecked
political anarchy would result.

In Kebumen -- where the looting of and burning of Chinese-
owned shops occurred on Monday and Tuesday -- order has been
restored.

Kedu police chief Col. Deddy Komarudin told The Jakarta Post
on Wednesday that the police had questioned 154 people in
connection with the riots and detained 15 as suspects in Kebumen.

He said 53 buildings, including shops and factories, were
damaged -- some burned -- and dozens of vehicles torched. The
riots have prompted many Chinese-Indonesians to flee the town
since Monday, the Post observed.

Hundreds of police and troops remained on alert in the area on
Wednesday. (45/aan/har)