Rumors and bomb hoaxes disrupt Jakarta
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)