Students meet Bogor mayor to express their concern
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)
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)