The capital braces for the masses

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)