The capital braces for the masses
JAKARTA (JP): Residents of the capital have begun taking precautionary measures bracing themselves for the masses expected on Sunday and Monday.
The memory of the riots and looting of May 1998 still fresh in their minds, traders in the Glodok area in West Jakarta and Roxy Mas area in Central Jakarta and even shopping malls were hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.
While most said it would be business as usual for the coming two days, steps were being taken to minimize potential losses.
At the Roxy Mas cellular phone center most major suppliers there decided to bring home their stock from their stores starting Saturday night.
"We don't want to take the risk ... So we're going to bring it home tonight and will only bring a few dozen of them here tomorrow," Yanto, the owner of one store in Roxy Mas told The Jakarta Post on Saturday.
The Plaza Senayan Shopping Mall located adjacent to Sunday's planned mass prayer and near the House of Representatives building, bolstered its security for the coming two-days, but pledged to remain open as long as the situation remains calm.
At the Jakarta Stock Exchange (BEJ) building in South Jakarta, several stock brokers suggested that the trading session would likely be suspended at 2 p.m., instead of the trading hours which last until 4 p.m.
BEJ president commissioner Erry Riyana Hardjapamekas told the Post however that the exchange would keep its usual two trading session until 4 p.m.
"But if some of the brokers decide to close early then it is up to them," he remarked.
Several office buildings in the business district along Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Jend. Sudirman and the Kuningan areas have also issued internal memos alerting employees and tenants.
"We were asked to come in on Monday as usual, but if the situation gets worse maybe we will close the office at noon," one of the staff at PT Satelindo, cellular phone operator told the Post on Saturday.
Many schools and privately-owned universities, particularly those located in the downtown area, have also decided to take precautionary steps by shortening or suspending their activities.
Atmajaya Catholic University, Trisakti University and Tarumanegara University have rescheduled their mid-term examination and given the students and faculty two-days off starting on Monday.
Santa Maria at the Jl. Juanda Raya, Central Jakarta have asked all students to go home at 10:30 a.m. on Monday. Other private schools such as Santa Ursula and Canisius College also plan to let students go home early.
As earlier reported, the Ministry of National Education had allowed schools in the capital to suspend school activities on Monday if they deemed it necessary.
The city administration has also alerted residential areas to remain on the lookout.
Gubernatorial Instruction No. 129/2001 issued to all subdistricts called on them to be vigilant and activate the neighborhood watch starting last Thursday.
"The governor has ordered all subdistrict chiefs to keep a close watch on their neighborhood especially in areas where there would likely be a concentration of the masses," city spokesman Muhayat told the Post. (dja)