Chaos mars Idul Adha celebration at Istiqlal<\/p>\n
Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The annual Idul Adha celebration, which constitutes the
\ndistribution of sacrificial beef and goat meat to the poor, was
\nagain marred by looting on Wednesday at Istiqlal Mosque in
\nCentral Jakarta when hundreds of residents broke the queue and
\ntook the meat.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, hundreds of faithfuls on Tuesday were denied the
\nIdul Adha prayers, as they received false information that there
\nwould be a mass prayer at the eastern parking lot of the Bung
\nKarno Sports Complex in Senayan, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Although the government had officially declared that Idul Adha
\nfell on Wednesday, several Islamic organizations, especially
\nMuhammadiyah, decided to celebrate the holiday on Tuesday
\ninstead.<\/p>\n
The incident at Istiqlal Mosque started when mosque officials
\ndistributed some 2,000 coupons to the crowd after the Idul Adha
\nprayers. The coupons were to be exchanged with a portion of the
\nsacrificial meat from goats and cows that had been slaughtered
\nearlier.<\/p>\n
After the coupons had all been distributed, there still
\nremained hundreds of people who had not received a coupon. They
\njoined the queue anyway, and insisted that they also be given a
\nshare of the meat, as reported by online news provider
\nwww.detik.com.<\/p>\n
"Pak, give us the meat," the crowd, most of whom were
\nteenagers, shouted at the distribution officials.<\/p>\n
The officials, however, did not pay attention to those who did
\nnot have coupons.<\/p>\n
The impatient crowd then broke through the 2-meter fence
\nbetween themselves and the officials, and started looting the
\nremaining meat. Even police officers from the Central Jakarta
\nPolice precinct could do nothing to bring them to order.<\/p>\n
Such incidents have become routine during the annual Day of
\nSacrifice. In 2001, the crowd broke through the fence to get at
\nthe meat as soon as the sacrificial animals had been slaughtered.<\/p>\n
Istiqlal Mosque slaughtered seven cows on Wednesday for the
\npublic, while another six are to be slaughtered on Thursday for
\nprivate institutions and foundations.<\/p>\n
Similar sacrificial activities of slaughtering goats and cows
\nand distributing the meat could be found at almost every mosque
\nin the city.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the City Husbandry, Fishery and Maritime Affairs
\nAgency warned residents to be careful in consuming the internal
\norgans of the cattle, such as the lungs or the liver, as they had
\nreceived reports of parasites found in the internal organs.<\/p>\n
"We received several reports saying that parasites were found
\nin the internal organs, although the meat was unaffected," head
\nof the agency's veterinary health division, Suwardi Rahmat told
\nAntara news agency.<\/p>\n
"It is quite difficult to detect parasites before the animal
\nis slaughtered."<\/p>\n
He also said that his field officials had prevented the
\ninfected internal organs from being distributed, although he did
\nnot reveal where his officials had met with such cases.<\/p>\n
The agency estimated that 3,500 cows, 100 bulls, 35,000 goats
\nand 1,000 sheep had been sacrificed this year in Jakarta alone.<\/p>\n
Taking opportunity of the day off, many residents visited
\npublic cemeteries to pay their respects to the dead, although
\nfewer in number compared to Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
Jakartans also visited popular tourist spots, such the Jaya
\nAncol Fantasy Park in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The residents enjoyed various attractions available in the
\ncomplex, such as Marina Beach and Festival Beach, Sea World,
\nDunia Fantasi, Ancol Swimming Pool and Ancol Sea.<\/p>\n
Residents, however, complained that there were not enough
\nfacilities available, such as garbage cans and benches.<\/p>",
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