Rumors and bomb hoaxes disrupt Jakarta
JAKARTA (JP): Rumors of a new wave of riots and bomb hoaxes again disrupted the capital yesterday, which still jittered from the impact of Saturday's street violence.
The Glodok market in West Jakarta and Pasar Baru in Central Jakarta, both normally crowded with shoppers, were virtually deserted by 1 p.m..
Most shop owners brought their shutters down after rumors spread that the two shopping centers were being targeted for new riots.
The rumors proved unfounded.
When the news spread, owners of shops, banks, money changers, karaoke lounges, massage parlors and restaurants closed their properties and told their employees to go home.
"There was a huge panic with people running everywhere, some rushing to their cars and others simply trying to get out as quick as possible," Rosanto, a security guard at the Harco electronics market in Glodok, told The Jakarta Post.
The presence of police and military officers, who were sent to the area immediately after the rumors struck, did not help to ease the tension.
"Under such circumstances, no one wants to take any risks," said shop owner Alex, who decided to guard his electronics shop.
In Pasar Baru, hundreds of shops and offices also closed down as soon as the rumors spread that rioters were heading there.
The hysteria at Glodok and Pasar Baru brought curious residents in the two areas out of their homes, adding tension to the situation.
By midday, the usually jam-packed streets of Jl. Gadjah Mada, Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. Mangga Besar, Jl. Sukarjo Wiryopranoto, Jl. KH Samanhudi, Jl. Gunung Sahari, Jl. Mangga Dua and Jl. KH Hasyim Ashari were almost deserted.
In Jakarta yesterday, there were more anonymous phone calls with bomb threats in various centers of activity, including two luxury hotels and two major shopping malls.
Panic and fear
As on Monday, all the calls turned out to be hoaxes, but still caused panic and fear. The authorities did not take chances and sent bomb disposal squads to the locations.
Bomb threat calls were made to the Centra Mulia building on Jl. Rasuna Said, Pondok Indah Mall in South Jakarta, Bank Dagang Negara office on Jl. MH Thamrin, Manggala Wanabakti building of the forestry ministry office in Slipi, Bank Mashill on Jl. Gajah Mada, Sari Pan Pacific hotel and Hotel Borobudur (all in Central Jakarta) and Makro Kelapa Gading store in North Jakarta.
In all the locations, the places were emptied as the bomb disposal squads checked the buildings.
The only things considered to be remotely suspicious were some electronic gadgets in a disposal basket located in the basement of the Centra Mulia building. The gadgets were removed, but it was not immediately clear by last night whether they were explosives.
Meanwhile, many offices in Jakarta received fax messages yesterday declaring that the authorities have slapped a night curfew on several main roads.
The Jakarta Coordinating Board for National Stability quickly denied such a measure and said that the messages were phony.
"It's untrue that the board had issued such an order. The notice is phony news and absolutely baseless," chief of the board, Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso, who is also the city military commander, was quoted as saying by Antara yesterday.
The message, a copy of which was also sent to The Jakarta Post, was signed by a provisional board (Dewan Pengaman Sementara DKI Jakarta) handling the city's security and addressed to residents of Jakarta.
It ordered residents to be in their homes by 6 p.m., and said that some main streets in the city would be temporarily closed.
Despite the rumors, the city -- in general -- had returned to normal as of yesterday. (bsr/jun)