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Thursday January 8, 10:32 pm Eastern Time
Military says Jakarta calm, pledges security
JAKARTA, Jan 9 (Reuters) - The Indonesian military said on Friday that Jakarta was calm and
pledged to maintain security in the city and its surrounding areas amid panic on the country's
currency and stock markets.
''District command offices will report to the headquarters every one hour on any development
in their respective areas,'' Lieutenant-Colonel Nachrowi, spokesman for the Jakarta military
command, told Reuters by telephone. ''There have been so many rumours in the capital, but I
can say Jakarta is safe today.''
Trading on Indonesia's financial markets was calmer on Friday morning, with some brokers
saying Thursday's meltdown was overdone. However, residents still lined up at some shops for
essential household items, Nachrowi said.
On Thursday, hundreds of people rushed to supermarkets to buy goods for fear of further price
hikes fearing hyper-inflation after the rupiah crashed below 10,000 to the dollar.
''We have urged the people not to pay attention to any rumours,'' he said. ''We also ask people
to immediately report to the military if they see something unusual. We will follow up.''
Nachrowi said residents thronged supermarkets to buy goods such as rice, milk and sugar on
Friday. ''I think what we should do now is to listen to what the government has said. That rice
stocks are enough and there is no need to worry,'' he said.
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