Some expatriates choose to remain in Jakarta

Some expatriates choose to remain in Jakarta

JAKARTA (JP): While thousands of foreigners join the race to
the airport due to the country's uncertain political situation
and last week's riots, there are some expatriates who have
decided to sit tight.

These few exceptions are not journalists, nor even embassy
staff.

Speaking to The Jakarta Post yesterday, they pledged to stay
in the capital come what may.

"I've been here in better times, why should I leave in bad
times?" said Franz V. Eichenauer, general manager of the
Mercantile Athletic Club.

The Austrian said he had no reason to flee the country despite
the abundant reports on the increasing number of expatriates
leaving Indonesia over the past few days.

"I don't feel unsafe," said Eichenauer, who has lived here
with his wife for two years at the Ascott apartments in Central
Jakarta.

He was met at the entrance of the World Trade Center on Jl.
Sudirman in South Jakarta by the club's chef, Robert, who had a
tray full of boxes of cakes from the Mercantile.

According to the two expatriates, they have distributed the
snacks free of charge every day to on-duty police, soldiers,
security guards, passersby and residents in different areas in
the city since Thursday evening, the day violent unrest and
looting erupted.

"We're traveling around the city, wherever my driver takes us
to drop this food," said Eichenauer.

At a time like this, "I believe more people need food and I
think it's time to help them ease their burdens," he added.

Eichenauer said he could only afford to have positive thoughts
about the country's current upheaval and believed the problem
would soon be resolved.

"The situation here right now is much better than in other
places I've experienced," he said, adding that he had spent
almost six years in the Soviet Union.

Eichenauer said he really loved Indonesia, particularly the
city and the people. He understands the turmoil that has hit the
country, but hopes a favorable situation will return soon.

He named three things that he considered would help restore
harmony: "the nation's nice people, their strong religious
beliefs and the country's intellectuals."

Briton Andy Hollingshead, a Moslem, acknowledged that the
situation had gone further than anyone ever imagined it could.

But he said such mayhem could occur in any country and he
strongly believed the situation would improve.

Hollingshead's main reason for staying is his family. "I'm
married to an Indonesian and I don't say that it's safe, but I
have to stay," he said.

The Nestle employee lives in Bandung, West Java, where he said
the situation was relatively calmer than Jakarta.

He said he was in the city on business and would return to
Bandung at the earliest. He has lived in the country for about
three years.

Paul, who declined to give his last name, said he wanted to
stay here but he had been urged to leave by those dear to him.

He said he and his wife, also a foreigner, both loved the
country but they had only been married for six months and her
family was very worried about the situation here.

He, therefore, had joined the queue at the American Embassy to
collect administrative clearance for joining the chartered planes
provided by his country.

However, Paul had decided to put off leaving for a few more
days as he said the situation in the city did not seem as bad as
had been reported by the foreign media.

Paul, who works for a plantation in Lembang, West Java, said
he had been in the country for almost three and a half years and
had enjoyed the country very much. (emf)