City's New Year's celebrations uncertain

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)