City Police to seize firecrackers on New Year's eve

JAKARTA (JP): In an effort to establish peace and order in the capital on New Year's eve, the City Police will conduct raids against firecrackers, an officer said on Friday.

City police spokesman Supt. Bahrul Alam said the raids would be held because the 2001 new year celebration is close to the Idul Fitri celebration, which has always been associated with firecrackers.

"We predict that firecrackers will still be sold widely until the new year.

"Firecrackers are very harmful. Firecrackers have claimed many casualties during the Takbiran night ahead of Idul Fitri," Bahrul told reporters at his office.

On the evening of Idul Fitri, firecrackers had reportedly injured 35 residents at several locations in Jakarta. All of the victims were admitted to hospitals for treatment. Some of them had lost their fingers, had their bones broken and even their eyes damaged.

As of Friday, three injured victims were still being treated at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital (RSCM) in Central Jakarta.

Some locations identified as popular areas for firecrackers are the National Monument (Monas) area, Jl. MH Thamrin, Jl. Sudirman, Tanah Abang, Parkir Timur Senayan and Jl. Tambak, all in Central Jakarta; Bulungan and Pasar Minggu in South Jakarta; Cililitan, Cawang and Otista in East Jakarta.

Data available at the City Administration stated that there were 27 casualties being treated at eight hospitals in Jakarta since Tuesday night.

Sumber Waras hospital in West Jakarta has been treating four victims: Firmansyah, 16, Paryono, 22, M. Syaiful, 18, and Sudarmadji, 30, who was later transferred to the AINI Eye hospital in Central Jakarta.

Pelni Hospital in Central Jakarta has treated three victims identified as Syahrul, 19, Chandra, 5, and Wahyudi, 5, while Graha Medika Hospital in South Jakarta has treated two victims, identified as Lila Maisyah, 18, and Chung Hie Lie, 43. Meanwhile, St. Carolus Hospital in Central Jakarta has only received one victim, identified as Agus Tiwi. R.

Among the eight hospitals, RSCM received the most victims during the evening of Idul Fitri. M. Toyib, 43, and Ujang, 16, were still being treated at the hospital's emergency unit. Other victims who have been treated in RSCM were Ari Saefulloh, 4, Pandu Aji, 13, Hardoyo, 30, Rodikin, Ibnu, 20, Budi, Iman, Iman Wahyudi, and Nur Oktobri, 13.

Fatmawati hospital in South Jakarta only received one victim identified as Andreas, 17, while Tebet hospital accommodated two victims identified as Ade, 28 and Sujono, 40.

Bahrul said the Jakarta Police headquarters called on city residents not to celebrate the New Year with firecrackers.

He warned that those caught playing with firecrackers could be charged with Emergency Law No. 12/1954, which carries a maximum punishment of 12 years in jail.

"So, there is no reason to celebrate the new year with firecrackers," he said. (01)