Violence cost the city Rp 16 billion

JAKARTA (JP): The city suffered Rp 16.46 billion (US$2.35 million) in financial losses during last week's upheavals, Governor Sutiyoso said on Thursday.

The tally accounts for the damage, burning and looting of 123 city-owned and private properties (Rp 14.57 billion), 165 public facilities (Rp 878.63 million) and 70 vehicles (Rp 1 billion), he announced.

The number of properties damaged, burned or looted during the clashes last Friday and Saturday is almost similar to that revealed by the city administration on Wednesday when losses were put at Rp 14.2 billion.

Eighty-four shops and 15 banks were damaged, eight hotels/restaurants, six government offices, four private offices, two shopping malls, two markets and one vehicle repair shop destroyed and/or looted and a gas station set ablaze by mobs.

Damaged public facilities include traffic lights and signs, flowerpots and two police stations.

Damaged or burned vehicles comprise 44 motorcycles and 25 cars and one public bus that was burned.

City data also discloses that the Black Friday shooting at antigovernment protesters at the Semanggi cloverleaf claimed the lives of 16 people, including six students, and injured 450 others.

The data does not reveal any details about the victims.

Hospitals in the city have listed 13 dead in the Friday the 13th clashes and two others in incidents on the previous day.

On Monday, Sutiyoso promised his administration would follow the example of the central government and other organizations in helping the victims.

"I've instructed my subordinates to arrange donations in the form of medicines for victims treated at either state or private hospitals.

"But we won't provide aid packages directly to victims," the governor said.

The largest financial losses among the city's five mayoralties was recorded by Central Jakarta with Rp 10.7 billion, followed by West Jakarta (Rp 3.4 billion), South Jakarta (Rp 63.9 million), East Jakarta (Rp 60 million) and North Jakarta (Rp 3 million).

Sutiyoso on Thursday reiterated his promise to prioritize the immediate renovation of public facilities damaged during the violent clashes, arson and lootings despite the city's limited budget.

"It's not an easy task though. We'll do the renovations in stages," Sutiyoso said.

According to him, the prolonged economic crisis has caused the city serious financial problems.

"The administration is still struggling to pay Rp 12 billion for the renovation of buildings damaged in May's mayhem," he said.

"The losses totaling Rp 16.5 billion, therefore, is too much for us."

Sutiyoso has therefore urged Jakartans not to damage other people's property or public facilities while conveying their aspirations.

"I urge all parties involved in street rallies in the capital to hold themselves back and do not let anger get the better of them.

"The city administration was just recovering from financial losses due to the May riots," he said.

"Because in the end, it is the people's money that pays for the damages." (ylt/ind)