Students meet Bogor mayor to express their concern

BOGOR (JP): A 14-strong delegation of Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) students went to the Bogor mayoralty office Saturday to express their concern about events arising from the monetary crisis.

Heri Ardin, the spokesman for representatives of the institute's student senate, said the group met with Mayor Eddy Gunardi to discuss the spread of negative rumors, ranging from strikes to riots.

"Everyone is trying to save herself or himself without thinking about others, such as hoarding basic food commodities. It is feared these acts will spark unrest as has happened in other cities," Heri said.

In a bid to prevent the current condition deteriorating further, the delegation gave the mayor a four-point statement prepared by the students.

Heri said the first step urged the Bogor mayoralty to take action against the alleged food hoarders.

Second, the students asked the Bogor chapter of the Association of Land Transportation Owners (Organda) to instruct all minivan drivers not to go on strike.

Third, the Ulema Council is urged to issue a statement through the mosques asking members of Moslem community to be calm and not easily provoked.

"Last, but not least, we ask the security officers to further intensify their patrols, especially around areas prone to riots," he said.

Responding to the students' statements, Eddy said his mayoralty and its staff had made preparations for the possibility of unfavorable situations.

"We have repeatedly held market operations by offering basic needs at affordable prices to the people."

He said the mayoralty always welcomed and even invited input from the public.

Coordination between the security, Ulema Council, Organda and the Bogor chapter of State Logistics Agency (Dolog) had also been intensified, he said.

Head of the local Dolog agency M. Nazar said it had conducted market operations involving 28 food items and the agency would always assist groups that wanted to stage cheap markets for the public.

Eddy also reminded Dolog to intensify its supervision of the distribution of goods.

"But don't give too freely. Who knows if they'll hoard the stocks and not distribute them to the public at cheap markets."

Chairman of the Bogor chapter of Organda A. Chotib Malik said there had been no strikes conducted by minivan drivers in the area.

He said vehicle owners and their drivers were committed to continuing operations despite the skyrocketing prices of spare parts.

Head of the Ulema Council Chaer Saleh said the holy fasting month and Idul Fitri holiday mood still remained among Bogor Moslems.

"Information on the need for calmness to face the crisis has been carried out through mosques, Islamic education schools and prayer groups," he said.

The chief of Bogor District Military Command, Lt. Col. Mustofa Hadi Pranoto, assured the public that Bogor was relatively safe.

He said the areas prone to riots were safe and community leaders had been ordered to collect data on any newcomers.

But he urged the public to report anything suspicious to National Alert Headquarters by dialing 122. (24/emf)