Eleven die in New Year's Eve festivities

Eleven die in New Year's Eve festivities

JAKARTA (JP): New Year celebrations were marred by at least
five deaths in Jakarta and six in Puncak, Bogor, in a series of
traffic accidents. Around 60 traffic victims were treated at the
Central Jakarta Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital alone and 26
at the Red Cross hospital in Bogor.

One who died was New Year reveler Joko Umbaran, aged 26, who
fell from a crowded truck in Gambir, Central Jakarta, Tuesday
evening. His truck was only of many filled with trumpet-blasting
youngsters gathered at the National Monument park.

The other bodies at the Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital's
morgue were: Rifai Ridwan, 50, a traffic victim in Taman Sari,
West Jakarta, Sriwidodo, 35, a victim in Cempaka Putih, Central
Jakarta, Narto, 40, a man from Kemayoran, Central Jakarta, and an
unidentified man in his 20s, from Depok, West Java.

The hospital's emergency unit treated 24 victims of traffic
accidents.

A chain collision on the Jagorawi toll road injured four men
and two women. They were taken to the Christian University
Hospital in East Jakarta.

The Sumber Waras Hospital in West Jakarta treated 10 injured
in accidents.

Traffic was particularly heavy on roads leading out of the
city, and around the city's recreation sites. Rain did not deter
revelers, happily soaked in the back of pick-up trucks.

Traffic remained heavy even though many people had left early
for destinations. Many of the 111,887 visitors to Ragunan Zoo,
South Jakarta, walked four kilometers from Pasar Minggu, and
walked home again, dragging toddlers. Several bought sandals to
replace high heeled shoes. Public buses were full and taxi
drivers refused to use their meters, charging twice the usual
fare.

Many who spent New Year's Eve at Ancol Dreamland had left at
10 a.m. But after the celebrations many had to sweat home through
Jl. Gunung Sahari because all vehicles were rerouted to Tanjung
Priok. Those who could not bargain with taxi or bajaj drivers
walked further to Pasar Baru or Senen, Central Jakarta.

By 2 p.m. Tuesday dang dut fans had already arrived at Taman
Mini Indonesia Indah, East Jakarta, for the evening show starring
Dang dut King Rhoma Irama. More than 220,000 eventually thronged
the park, causing congestion from the UKI Christian University to
the Taman Mini toll-road gate.

Fifteen drivers passing toll gates were lucky when the
Jagorawi management distributed surprise gifts at 00:00.

The Jagorawi branch of the state-run toll road company, PT
Jasa Marga, reported 48,811 vehicles heading to Ciawi, over twice
the normal figure. The figure covered the period from Tuesday 6
a.m. to 6 a.m. yesterday.

The road to Puncak roared with motorcycles and other vehicles
until 1997's first hours. Dozens gave up going all the way to the
favorite mountain top spot, and ate sweetcorn on the roadside
instead.

Bogor youngsters weaved through traffic on bikes while others
hopped in pick-up trucks. But many in Greater Jakarta also spent
the time reflecting quietly. Around 2,000 young people at the As-
Salaam mosque in Citeureup took part in mass prayers from 11 p.m.
to 7 a.m.

Hotels provided several options for the new year countdown.
Hundreds packed the Grand Hyatt lobby to watch Grand Cirque,
where models paraded designer outfits to the accompaniment of
jugglers, clowns, fire breathers and dancing human leopards.

City officials greeted revelers at Taman Mini and Ancol
Dreamland. These included City Police Chief May.Gen. Hamami Nata
and City Military Commander May. Gen. Sutiyoso.

At Taman Mini, Governor Surjadi Soedirdja thanked Jakartans
for their participation in the city's development and asked them
to work harder in 1997.

He was greeted by loud cheers, but someone threw sandals at
him. One fell at his feet, but the governor continued his address
unfazed.

At the Dreamland's art market Surjadi blew his trumpet at
midnight with some 20,000 visitors. Fireworks followed and
sweethearts embraced. Several rushed to shake hands with him. In
all, there were more than 200,000 visitors at Ancol, the
management estimated.

Local bands and singers like Java Jive and Elvi Sukaesih,
rocked visitors from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. (team)