Tension grips city as masses, students clash with police

Tension grips city as masses, students clash with police

JAKARTA (JP): Tension once again rocked the city following
violent clashes between crowds of ordinary people, including
students, and security troops on Friday.

Many employees failed to reach their workplaces. A large
number of companies, banks and shops closed down for the day in
fear of mobs turning as violent as those in the massive May 1998
riots.

People attempting to withdraw money from automatic teller
machines (ATMs) in many parts of the city became upset after
realizing the ATM booths had been locked.

The tension was not only apparent on Jl. Sudirman, Central
Jakarta, the scene of clashes between troops and students, who
demanded the House of Representatives drop the military-sponsored
state security bill.

Nervous traders, employees and common people could be seen in
many busy places, such as in downtown Kota, Mangga Dua and
Grogol, where there are residential complexes and business
centers of many Chinese-Indonesians.

Anxiety was also clearly evident on the faces of many shop
attendants, particularly females, who were nervously awaiting
instructions from their bosses to close their shops.

In many spots in the city, people were seen rushing to find
safe ways to leave the area and head home amid rumors in the
afternoon of looting in several places near Jl. Sudirman.

Virtually all offices in the vicinity closed after noon on
Friday.

Business activities also slowed down in the business districts
of Mangga Dua in West Jakarta, Jl. Pinangsia, Jl. Hayam Wuruk,
Jl. Gajah Mada, Tanah Abang market and along Jl. Gunung Sahari in
Central Jakarta.

More than half of the shops in these areas closed their
businesses for the day.

At the popular ITC Mangga Dua shopping mall in West Jakarta,
which is usually filled with thousands of people, only a few
customers were seen.

Mul, an attendant of Continental apparel shop in the mall,
said she had been waiting for her boss' instruction to close up
shop.

"I've heard the situation has become worse in Sudirman but my
boss has said nothing yet," she said.

Owner of Elis shop, Elisa, said she had prepared herself and
the shop for any possible bad situation at the mall.

Jl. Sudirman, the scene of the clashes, on Friday resembled a
huge rubbish site, with broken glass, stones, bottles, soil, iron
bars and sticks scattered everywhere.

Security guard R.P. Sigit of Aetna building said most of the
employees in the building arrived but only stayed a short while
before going back home.

"The employees were worried that the situation would turn
worse in the evening," he said.

Others like Suwanto and Eddy Sukardani, who became trapped in
the area due to a security barricade, just bided their time until
they were able to leave the area.

Many workers whose offices are located in the area immediately
finished their business before the Islamic Friday midday prayer.

"I don't want to be trapped in the clash... who knows whether
or not riots of the scale of May last year will occur again,"
trader Juandi said.

On the other hand, many other office occupants in the area and
local vendors distributed food and other daily needs to
protesting students gathered at the nearby Atma Jaya University.

Some of them also collected money to buy things such as food,
water, bread, towels, soap and paper napkins for the students.

Private employees Sudarjono and Sarjono said their colleagues
collected money upon hearing that some students had been shot by
security personnel when protesting the state security bill.

"We collected some Rp 1.5 million within one hour. Then five
of our friends immediately bought the things needed this
morning," said Sudarjono, who added that the donation was
distributed to Trisakti university in West Jakarta and Atma Jaya
University in South Jakarta.

Some students' parents also collected donations, like
housewife Krisutarto, a mother of an Atma Jaya student who joined
the demonstration.

Krisutarto, who was accompanied by three friends from Bekasi
in West Java, mobilized her friends to raise funds for the
movement.

"I am proud that my daughter is one of those who fight for the
people," she said. (ind/04)