Violence forces city's business to shut up shop

JAKARTA (JP): Business activities in the capital practically ground to a halt on Friday due to fear and the chaotic conditions brought about by major clashes between protesting students and security officers in which at least four students were killed.

Most of the shops, offices and schools in most parts of the city were closed since early in the morning, with some others being closed after the Moslem Friday prayer at about 1 p.m.

Almost all shops, bank offices and schools along Jl. Matraman, Jl. Salemba, Jl. Kramat Raya and Jl. Gunung Sahari in Central Jakarta were closed when thousands of local residents joined protesting students on Jl. Salemba before marching in the direction of the People's Consultative Assembly (MPR) building, where a Special Session was being held.

Atrium Senen and Planet Senen shopping centers were also closed for the second consecutive day on Friday.

Anwar, one of the security guards at Glodok Plaza shopping center in West Jakarta Anwar said that owing to fear over any possible riots, hardly a single customer bought merchandise there.

"The traders and owners immediately closed their shops and sent the workers home," Anwar said.

No business activities could be found going on along other Central Jakarta streets, including Jl. Hayam Wuruk, Jl. Gajah Mada, Jl. Mangga Besar, Jl. Sawah Besar, Jl. Samanhudi, Jl. Gunung Sahari, Jl. Pasar Senen and Jl. Tanah Abang II.

A similar scene was also evident in East Jakarta along Jl. Matraman, Jl. Klender and Jl. Pahlawan Revolusi as most shops and offices there were closed.

A female employee of a private firm on Jl. Pahlawan Revolusi said that her office was closed after the Friday prayer in fear of possible riots.

Bank Niaga's branch office on Jl. Lapangan Ros, South Jakarta, decided to close its activities in the morning by asking its customers to go to other branch offices, according to its security guard.

Some streets in South Jakarta, including the Cawang-Tomang toll road, which were blocked on Thursday, were still inaccessible since 6 a.m. on Friday.

Hundreds of police officers and soldiers were deployed to guard the roads, especially those leading to the MPR building on Jl. Gatot Subroto.

The situation became increasingly tense in the evening as tens of thousands of residents flocked to the streets to join the students in clashes with anti-riot officers.

A reader living in Pluit, one of the areas severely affected by the mid-May riots, telephoned The Jakarta Post in the evening questioning whether the clashes, which occurred in front of Atmajaya University on Jl. Sudirman and in Slipi, could spread to his residential area in North Jakarta.

However, business in Pancoran market in South Jakarta went on as usual as if there weren't any clashes happening in the city with sidewalk vendors and traditional Chinese medicine sellers tending their kiosks.

Anthony, a compact disc street vendor, said he was optimistic that unrest would not occur in the area. "I see security guards everywhere, so there's nothing to worry about, I think. If they loot my merchandise, I will just let them get on with it," he said.

Fruit vendor Palal expressed confidence that his business would be running as usual. "This place (Pancoran market) is a safe place. When the May riots erupted, the market was not affected at all," he said.

"Surabaya" traditional Chinese medicine shop owner, Alex, also continued his business there even though other shops had been closed down. "Actually, I heard rumors of possible riots but I decided to continue," he said.

Taman Anggrek and Mal Ciputra malls, both in West Jakarta, were open as usual, but few customers were seen there.

The security officers of the two malls were sure that there would be no more riots there. (jun/ind)