School's out until Friday, new spate of unrest feared

JAKARTA (JP): Elementary and high school students have been given three days off as fears of fresh rioting grip the capital, a City Education and Culture Office staffer said yesterday.

Usman, from the office's administrative affairs section, said the office had issued a letter dated May 17 which informed the students that the impromptu vacation would be from yesterday through Wednesday.

"School will reopen on Friday because Thursday is a public holiday," he said. "We worry that rumors about a huge demonstration planned for May 20 will happen and erupt into violence."

He said the office issued the letter, which was sent to schools, after a coordinating meeting with city administration officials last week.

However, headmasters, teachers and employees are expected to go to school as usual to complete nonteaching tasks.

Massive riots developed Wednesday and Thursday, with thousands of buildings, shops, vehicles, motorcycles and houses burned down or damaged. About 500 people were reported to have been killed.

The mob violence was triggered by the death of four Trisakti University student protesters on May 12.

As Jakarta enjoyed relative calm yesterday, rumors abounded that students and political activists would hold a huge rally at the National Monument (Monas), near the presidential office, on May 20 to coincide with National Awakening Day.

Many fear that the massive rally, to intensify pressure on President Soeharto to stand down, would trigger further rioting.

Teachers at some state and privately owned schools contacted by The Jakarta Post revealed that they had not received the letter Usman spoke of.

An elementary school teacher, Ratno Hadi, said that the school only received an unofficial instruction from the office to tell the students it was a vacation.

Ratno, a teacher of SDN Selong 03 elementary school in South Jakarta, said that only a small number of students came to school yesterday.

"We were asked by the education and culture office to close the school until Friday as it could be dangerous for students to go to school if tensions are still high."

He said that the school principal and teachers were asked to go to work as usual.

"I take pity on the students because they are supposed to prepare for a test this week ahead of the national exam next Monday."

Theresia Seneng Rahayu, a teacher at Catholic Santa Theresia Tourism High School in Central Jakarta, said the school itself had decided to suspend classes from Thursday.

"Students are asked to listen to Radio Sonora for further notice."

She said school activities were to resume yesterday but, when only 50 of the 700 students turned up, classes were postponed.

"Some students have fled to Singapore with their relatives to avoid the possibility of more riots."

Suyatmo, a teacher of Catholic Tarakanita Junior High School in Pluit, North Jakarta, said that the school would be closed until Friday.

He said about 15 of the 40 students in each class were in attendance yesterday so the school management decided to tell them it was a vacation.

Suyatmo also said that it was the school's initiative to grant the vacation as it had not received the official letter. (ind/hhr)