New Year's festivities okay before Dec. 28<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has decided to allow
\nentertainment businesses to hold New Year's celebrations before
\nDec. 28, the Public Order Agency announced yesterday.<\/p>\n
Toha Reno, head of the agency's public order and entertainment
\nsubdivision, said that the municipality will provide permits to
\nselected nightspots.<\/p>\n
The decision follows a gubernatorial decree which bans the
\noperation of all nightspots for six days during the Ramadhan
\nfasting month, including the first day of fasting which coincides
\nwith New Year's Eve.<\/p>\n
\"Some of the owners of entertainment spots have come up with
\nthe idea to move their New Year's celebrations forward (so they
\ncan be held) before the fasting month begins,\" Toha said.<\/p>\n
\"And, currently, the municipality is considering their
\nrequests and will issue permits selectively. It means that if the
\nevent does not have a potential to cause a public disturbance
\nthen the municipality will gladly issue the permits.\"<\/p>\n
He said the proposed parties would be held on Saturday, Dec.
\n27, in several entertainment centers such as the Ancol
\nRecreational Park, North Jakarta; Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in
\nEast Jakarta and Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran, Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The city administration had earlier issued a gubernatorial
\ndecree banning the operation of discotheques, cafes, massage
\nparlors, live music centers, billiard houses and nightclubs for
\nsix days during the fasting month, which is expected to start on
\nDec. 31.<\/p>\n
Decree No.437\/1997, dated Nov. 26, listed the affected days as
\nthe first day of Ramadhan, one day before Idul Fitri, the two
\npublic holidays and the day after Idul Fitri.<\/p>\n
One of the decree's 10 instructions banned nightspots from
\nholding New Year's Eve parties this year because the date marks
\nthe start of the fasting month.<\/p>\n
\"I think it is fair for the entertainment business owners to
\nstage a celebration before the fasting month to accommodate
\npeople's new year spirit.<\/p>\n
\"Jakarta is a diverse, metropolitan and international city.
\nTherefore, it's important to give the residents a chance to be
\nhappy and provide them with opportunities to release their
\nemotions.\"<\/p>\n
Toha also revealed the security plans for the city during the
\nfestive season, which included deploying 500 officers from the
\npublic order agency and other related bodies.<\/p>\n
\"We will also coordinate this with Jakarta Police and Jakarta
\nMilitary Command. So it will amount to thousands of officers.\"<\/p>\n
His office has started its festive season crackdown by curbing
\nthe distribution of firecrackers in North Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"Some 2,000 kilograms of firecrackers were seized during a
\ncity order operation last week.\"<\/p>\n
Besides firecrackers, the pre-festive operation -- which
\nstarted last month and will end Christmas Eve -- was planned to
\nput in order sidewalk vendors, entertainment spots and the
\ndistribution of liquor, meat, food and beverages.<\/p>\n
The next crackdown, Operation Candle, will be held from Dec.
\n25 1997 to Jan. 7 1998 and the control and supervision of bus
\nterminals, railway stations, entertainment centers, places of
\nworships and crime-prone locations will be intensified.<\/p>\n
The post-festive operation will be held from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7,
\nand continue the cleanup of sidewalk vendors and supervise the
\ninflux of holiday revelers from other cities.<\/p>\n
\"The operation will continue up until Ramadhan, Idul Fitri and
\nthe March meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly,\" Toha
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He identified the city's riot-prone areas as Tanah Abang,
\nSenen and Kemayoran in Central Jakarta; Pulo Gadung in East
\nJakarta; Hayam Wuruk and Gajah Mada, Kota in West Jakarta; Koja
\nand Kramat Tunggak in North Jakarta and Blok M in South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I urge people to be careful and not to flaunt their
\nbelongings because during this season there are many thieves,
\npickpockets and robbers operating in the city, especially in
\ncrowded places.\"<\/p>\n
Harun Al Rasyid, deputy governor for economic and financial
\naffairs, told reporters that the city has prepared for the
\nfestive season by gathering additional staple food stocks.<\/p>\n
\"We will add some 10 to 20 percent to staple food stocks, such
\nas rice, coconut oil and flour to prevent any price hikes,\" Harun
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
He urged Jakartans not to worry about, instead \"let's just
\ncelebrate it\". (edt)<\/p>",
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