Indonesia marks Idul Fitri with anguish and simplicity<\/p>\n
Fabiola Desy Unidjaja, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, celebrated
\nIdul Fitri in relatively subdued fashion amid concern over
\nterrorist acts that have plagued the nation this year.<\/p>\n
The people in Makassar, capital of the South Sulawesi
\nprovince, were shocked by a bomb blast that killed three at a
\nMcDonald's restaurant in the city on Thursday, the first day of
\nIdul Fitri while two people in once-tense Poso, Central Sulawesi,
\nwere killed by snipers.<\/p>\n
The two separate incidents discouraged local people,
\nespecially Muslims, from going out of their homes as fear gripped
\nthe region.<\/p>\n
The police in Makassar have arrested two suspects in the blast
\nwhile security authorities in Central Sulawesi have decided to
\nextend the police operation, scheduled to end this month, to
\nrestore security and order in the regency.<\/p>\n
However, the Sulawesi killings, along with some ongoing
\nproblems in other provinces, did not represent the Idul Fitri
\ncelebration nationwide although a majority of people observed the
\nholiday in modest fashion.<\/p>\n
Most Muslims in densely-populated Java revived their tradition
\nof celebrating Idul Fitri in their hometowns. After a month-long
\nfast, Javanese Muslims went back to their villages (mostly from
\nJakarta and other cities) to visit their families and friends.<\/p>\n
Despite lower numbers than previous years, a great number of
\nJakartans made the journey home by motorcycle because of
\ntransportation problems and skyrocketing bus fares.<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri and Vice President Hamzah
\nHaz, along with their families, held an open house at their own
\nresidences soon after attending the Ied prayer at the Istiqlal
\nGrand Mosque on Friday.<\/p>\n
The subdued tone was also reflected by the drastic reduction
\nin number of those wanting to extend Idul Fitri greetings to
\nMegawati and her husband Taufik Kiemas at the State Palace.<\/p>\n
Many legislators, even from Megawati's party, the Indonesian
\nDemocratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan), were absent.<\/p>\n
By the end of the evening, less than 2,000 people had come to
\nthe gathering, sharply down from last year when almost 5,000
\npeople eagerly lined up and waited at the Palace for a brief
\nhandshake with the President.<\/p>\n
\"We prepared 4,500 boxes of cakes for the visitors, not even
\nhalf were distributed, maybe people have lost interest in the
\npresident,\" one of the Palace official said.<\/p>\n
During the gathering, Megawati was disturbed by two men who
\nclaimed to be \"her sons\" and refused to leave the Palace
\ncompound. But Presidential Security officers escorted them away
\nfrom the Palace.<\/p>\n
Former President Soeharto, celebrated Idul Fitri quietly, with
\nfamily, friends and several former subordinates visited his home
\nat Jl. Cendana, Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The dispute by two of the largest Muslim organizations over
\nthe start of Idul Fitri did not disturb the celebration as a
\nmajority of Muslims in the country accepted the government's
\nannouncement that it officially began on Friday. Many Muslims,
\nespecially supporters of Muhammadiyah in Yogyakarta and Solo,
\nstarted celebrating on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Thousands flocked to family recreation and entertainment
\ncenters, including zoos and swimming pools on Saturday, the
\nsecond day of Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
\"We are a low-income family and I brought my three children to
\nthe Gembira Loka zoo for entertainment after the 30-day fast,\"
\nsaid Umi Soemarno, wife of a taxi driver in Yogyakarta.<\/p>\n
Muslims in conflict-ridden regions such as Papua, Ambon and
\nAceh also celebrated Idul Fitri in a similar fashion as those in
\nother regions.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Oct. 12 Bali terror attacks that claimed almost
\n200 people and wounded more than 320 others, along with the bomb
\nblast in Makassar have been a slap in Islam's face for many here
\nas the prime suspects are all Indonesian Muslims.<\/p>\n
Many foreign countries have given their full support for the
\ngovernment's move to fight terrorism in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
The two largest Muslim organizations Nadhlatul Ulama and
\nMuhammadiyah called on all their followers to maintain national
\nunity and promote peace among religious communities despite the
\nbombings that involved the minority extreme groups.<\/p>\n
Former president Abdurrahman \"Gus Dur\" Wahid and Muhammadiyah
\nChairman Ahmad Sjafii Maarif were of the same opinion that the
\nincidents could have a strengthening affect on the unity among
\nMuslims and religious communities in the country.<\/p>",
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