Stop the riot, or economy will be paralyzed

November 05, 2016, 04.00 PM  | Reporter: Dede Suprayitno, Ramadhani Prihatini, Umi Kulsum
Stop the riot, or economy will be paralyzed


JAKARTA. The massive demonstration, which initially was running smoothly, finally ended with a riot. The demonstration seemed to end in a peaceful manner after the meeting between demonstrators’ representatives with Vice President Jusuf Kalla.

During the meeting, Kalla stressed that the case of Al Quran defamation allegation committed by non-active Jakarta Governor Basuki Tjahaja Purnama will be settled within two weeks.

However, the situation turned to into riot. Masses threw mineral water bottles and bricks. Situation became more chaotic after masses attacked polices. Two police trucks were burnt. The police then started shooting tears gas to the mass crowds.

The masses, which were ready to leave the location, jumped from the buses and turned back to presidential palace. Police then started shooting water from water cannon vehicles to prevent the masses to approach presidential palace.

Aside of nearby presidential palace, riots also sparked in Penjaringan (North Jakarta) and Cideng areas. In Penjaringan, masses also destructed mini markets.

The situation subsided at 9pm after Chief of National Police General Tito Karnavian and Commander of Armed Forces General Gatot Nurmantyo calmed the masses down. After failed to meet with President Joko Widodo, masses moved to the House of Representatives building to deliver their aspirations.

This may heat up national political situation. However, the managements of business and trade centers have anticipated the riot potentials. Most of stores at Tanah Abang (Central Jakarta), Season City (West Jakarta), and Glodok trade center were close on Friday (4/11).

Promotion Manager of Bloc A Tanah Abang Hery Supriyatna said that the Bloc A experienced decline in trade transactions. Only 300 of 6,000 stalls at Bloc A were open on Friday (4/11). Hery said that the trade cycle in Tanah Abang is supposed to improve in November, after declined during the last August-October 2016.

A trader at Bloc F of Tanah Abang market Akbar Maulana (45 years old) said that on Friday (4/11) he only secured a worth of Rp 700,000 transactions, whereas he usually can manage a worth of Rp 7 million-Rp 10 million transactions every day.

According to the site of www.jakarta-tourism.go.id, at least 13,000 stores operate at Tanah Abang every day. Supposed each store books an IDR10 million minimum transaction, the daily total transaction at the largest groceries trade center in the South East Asia region in amounts to Rp 130 billion. However, it was estimated that the total transaction on Friday (4/11) only amounted to Rp 13 billion.

Chairman of Association of Indonesian Retailers Roy N Mandey said that the retailers were still operating despite of the demonstration. The low transaction is a business risk. “I hope the demonstration will run in an order manner”, he said.

Head of Investor Relation Agung Podomoro Land Wibisono said that some shopping centers under the management of Agung Podomoro experienced a decrease in the number of visitors. “However, we still cannot confirm yet the exact number”, said Wibisono.

(Muhammad Farid/Translator)

Editor: Dupla Kartini

Latest News