City's New Year's celebrations uncertain

JAKARTA (JP): A gubernatorial decree concerning public celebrations on New Year's Eve is still in the works, but councilors were split on Tuesday on whether the show should go on to bring in 1999.

Head of the United Development Party (PPP) faction, Achmad Suaidy, demanded that Governor Sutiyoso ban all public festivities due to the unstable security situation, with the exception of celebrations organized at star-rated hotels.

He argued the ban would also meet calls of several Moslem groups which said celebrations would be improper in the middle of the Ramadhan fasting month.

Fresh unrest could break out if the governor failed to heed his advice, Suaidy warned.

Star-rated hotels would be excluded "as they're part of the international community".

Dissenting opinions were voiced by the respective heads of the Indonesian Democratic Party (PDI) faction, Lukman Mokoginta, and the Armed Forces (ABRI), Sumekar.

They said New Year's celebrations should be held at recreation sites, such as the Ancol Dreamworld in North Jakarta and Taman Mini Indonesia Indah park in East Jakarta, albeit with restrictions.

The governor could limit the party hours and order all organizers to mark the event in a modest way.

The city administration should accommodate Jakartans who want to celebrate the date, including with adequate provision of security, Lukman said.

"The authorities should prepare a strong security troop (deployment) to anticipate any possibilities."

Last year, the administration banned hotels, discotheques, cafes and nightclubs from holding New Year's celebrations because the date coincided with the opening of the fasting month.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi told reporters on Tuesday the city administration was still preparing a gubernatorial decree on celebrations.

Suaidy said he feared irresponsible parties would use public celebrations to foment unrest.

"That's why it is better that events like fireworks displays are banned."

Several enterprises contacted by The Jakarta Post on Tuesday said they had already decided to hold low-key celebrations.

Dede Rusli, public relations manager of Champions bar and restaurant in Kemang, South Jakarta, said no special events were planned for New Year's Eve.

"There will only be musical performances by our home band. We have no plan, for instance, to present famous singers like in previous years."

Nuni Sutyoko Rasad, public relations manager of Regent Hotel in South Jakarta, said: "I think people won't be looking for glamorous parties this year (due to the economic crisis), that's why we also have no special event for New Year's Eve.

"We are only offering special dinners at our three restaurants."

Marketing officer of South Jakarta's Galeri TC cafe, Ade Sri Purwaningsih, said this year would be no different than the previous New Year's Eve.

"We'll have no special events, like last year's New Year Eve, out of respect for Ramadhan." (ind)