Rumors of looting rock Tangerang
TANGERANG (JP): Frightened proprietors closed hundreds of shops and offices in Tangerang yesterday after rumors of imminent looting and arson spread through the town center.
Panicking housewives were seen rushing home with their shopping on the streets around Pasar Anyar traditional market.
"There were women running about on the streets. I though there was a fire or a riot so I immediately packed up my merchandise and closed for the day," Yuliani, a street vendor, said.
A noisy crowd of school children ran excitedly down the busy Jl. KI Samaun screaming that the nearby Borobudur department store had been set ablaze.
The long lines of cars parked along Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan, Jl. A. Yani, Jl. Kasnawi and Jl. KI Samaun disappeared as worried owners drove their vehicles to safer places.
Employees of the local municipality office stood guard at the entrance to their building. Two fire engines were put into a state of readiness in the fire station.
The groundless rumors spread rapidly along the grapevine and traders in Malabar, Cimone and Perumnas also closed up shop for the day. Residents in these areas also took precautions.
The Jakarta Post office, 35 kilometers away in the capital, received numerous calls seeking confirmation of the news.
After confirming that the rumors had no founding, local police toured the town in the evening and announced from their patrol cars that no rioting had taken place. They also urged traders to resume business as usual.
Some obeyed the calls, but many shops remained closed due to fears of a repetition of the recent unrest which left hundreds of buildings damaged.
Tangerang Police chief Lt. Col. Aryanto Boedihardjo said his office had received reports of a dispute between a trader and a parking attendant and a fire at a motorcycle repair shop in Batuceper yesterday afternoon.
The fire started due to the carelessness of an employee.
Aryanto insisted the rumors were groundless and said police had begun to search for the hoaxer.
"We have no suspects as yet," Aryanto said.
He also urged Tangerang residents to set up a 24-hour neighborhood watch to act as an early warning system should any signs of trouble arise. (bsr)