Jakarta empties out during protest

The Jakarta Post ,  Jakarta   |  Tue, 05/02/2006 10:30 AM  |  Jakarta

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Anticipation of the massive labor rally Monday meant it was no ordinary weekday in the capital.

Traffic on the outskirts of the city was unusually scarce, in contrast to the stifling congestion along main thoroughfares leading to protest areas.

Most Jakartans were prepared for the disruption in their daily routine. Several schools -- including St. Ursula elementary school in Sawah Besar and state elementary schools No. 7 and No. 12 in Kenari, all in Central Jakarta -- let students go home at 10 a.m., said the head of Jakarta Basic Education Agency, Sylviana Murni.

Private elementary school Tarakanita 5 in South Jakarta decided to postpone Monday's mid-semester examination for sixth graders.

Several offices even loosened strict regulations on proper office attire, uniforms and work hours.

""Our superiors in our division took the initiative to let us do our tasks at home. However, it did not affect all the employees,"" Nina, who works in a private company on Jl. Zainul Arifin, Central Jakarta, was quoted as saying by Antara newswire.

Busway operator Transjakarta decided to halt the operation of its fleet in the Blok M-Kota route, which passes main thoroughfares Jl. Sudirman and Jl. Thamrin, for safety's sake. A busway vehicle was destroyed by protesters in April.

""We halted the operation from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.,"" director Bambang Gardjito said, adding that he had yet to calculate losses from the stoppage in service.

The influx of thousands of protesters into the city provided business opportunities for street vendors.

Hundreds of vendors crowded the median strips and the sidewalks at Jl. Merdeka Barat and Jl. Merdeka Utara. They began arriving at 9 a.m. in anticipation of the arrival of protesters.

Heri, 23, who usually sells fried rice in Cikini at night, tried his luck by opening his stall at 10 a.m. along the median of Jl. Merdeka Barat.

""I only do this when there is a rally,"" he said, adding he hoped for double his usual sales.

The vendors were in luck. At 2 p.m., swarms of tired, thirsty and hungry protesters, bedraggled from being caught in an afternoon downpour, descended on the vendors for a good meal. (01)

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