Riots impair Surakarta business

SURAKARTA, Central Java: Material damages in Surakarta from the two days of widespread unrest on May 14 and May 15 are estimated to total Rp 457.5 billion.

Rahmadi Wahyudi, head of the team assessing the damage, said much of the losses were from the 10 shopping plazas and 23 showrooms torched during the riots.

The damage to shopping plazas, showrooms and major supermarkets alone are estimated at Rp 189.6 billion.

Another 58 individual shops and 14 factories were also burned in the anarchy, while dozens of other buildings were severely damaged.

"The material damages are very high, but the greater loss comes from the trauma of the riots which might affect the business climate in Surakarta," Rahmadi said here yesterday.

He feared businesspeople might be less inclined to invest here in the future, causing commercial activity in Surakarta to come to a complete standstill.

"The security apparatus must provide assurances that the city is again safe for business so any fears which may be lingering can be dispelled," he said. (har)