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)