A new year with message of peace

Kurniawan Hari and Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Indonesians enjoyed new year festivities peacefully amid tight security by police and military personnel.

No violence or bombings were reported during the celebrations across the archipelago.

Police said 200,000 personnel aided by the military safeguarded celebrations.

In Jakarta, celebrations centered on the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and Jl. M.H. Thamrin, where thousands of people enjoyed music performances and sermons from religious leaders.

People blew trumpets and enjoyed fireworks as the clock hit midnight. Light rain did not disturb the celebration.

Near the Oct. 12 bomb blast site in Kuta, Bali, President Megawati Soekarnoputri conveyed a message to the nation and the international community that violence must be rooted out and crushed in 2003.

The President, accompanied by Vice President Hamzah Haz, struck a gong, marking the New Year as the year of non violence.

Speaking before thousands of domestic and foreign tourists, Megawati called on the nation to live peacefully and to respect each other.

In a celebration dubbed "Bali for The World", a number of domestic and foreign artists staged music and traditional dance shows.

In the South Sulawesi capital of Makassar, where a bomb blast killed three people on Dec. 5, thousands of people flocked to the city's popular Losari beach. Local residents enjoyed music performances and fireworks.

Some roads leading to the beach were closed and patrolled by police and military personnel.

Several people, however, chose to stay at home instead of going to the beach, saying it was safer not to visit public places.

In the conflict-ridden province of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam, people gathered outside the Baiturrahman Grand Mosque and trumpeted in the New Year.

Convoys of vehicles carrying locals drove around the city's streets while security forces stayed alert. This year's celebration was different from previous years when gunshots were usually heard on New Year's Eve, Antara reported.

At Ulee Lhue Beach, young couples enjoyed the celebration despite the implementation of sharia which prohibits unmarried boys and girls mixing.

Peace has largely held since a peace agreement between Jakarta and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) was signed in Geneva recently.

However, gunshots and firecrackers were heard as residents flocked to downtown Ambon, the capital of Maluku province, despite security patrols. No fatalities were reported.

Ambon mayor M.J. Papilaja thanked the people and the security forces for ensuring the celebrations were peaceful.

Muslims and Christians have been engaged in a bloody sectarian conflict in the city since Jan. 19, 1999.

A number of problems, including repatriating refugees and rebuilding infrastructure, needed to be resolved soon, Papilaja added.

In Yogyakarta, another major tourist destination, several art performances were presented for visitors at recreation centers.

Local tourism officer Aji Wulantoro said it was committed to developing local arts and culture and did not simply perform Western music during the celebration.

Partygoers gathered in the city's downtown, especially at the post office intersection on Jl. Malioboro.

Security forces in Atambua, Belu regency, East Nusa Tenggara, deployed personnel to safeguard tourism sites in the regency which borders newly-independent East Timor.

Local police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Agus Nugroho expressed hope that residents would help police promote security and order, especially on the New Year's Day holiday.

Five people were killed when the drunk driver of a four-wheel- drive carrying two passengers lost control and hit two pedestrians in Bawen, Salatiga, Central Java, at dawn on Wednesday.

In Jakarta, dozens were injured in separate accidents overnight Tuesday.