First phase of haj operation ends
First phase of haj operation ends
JAKARTA (JP): The first phase of this year's haj operation was
completed when the last plane carrying Indonesian pilgrims to
Saudi Arabia left Jakarta's Halim Perdanakusuma airport last
night.
Armed Forces Commander Gen. Feisal Tanjung, who is amirul haj
or leader of the haj delegation this year, was among the
passengers on the 193th flight departing from Jakarta yesterday.
The other four embarkation points -- Ujungpandang in South
Sulawesi, Balikpapan, Surabaya and Medan -- completed their haj-
embarkation operations on Friday.
Other dignitaries also on the pilgrimage this year are State
Minister of Agrarian Affairs Soni Harsono, State Minister of Food
Ibrahim Hasan, Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Azwar
Anas, Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, and Minister of National
Development Planning Ginandjar Kartasasmita.
The group of people who saw off the distinguished pilgrims
yesterday was no less illustrious. It included Minister of
Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher, Minister/State Secretary
Moerdiono, Armed Forces (ABRI) Chief of General Affairs Let. Gen.
Soeyono, ABRI Chief of Social and Political Affairs Let. Gen.
Syarwan Hamid, and commander of the Army Special Force Brig. Gen.
Prabowo Subianto.
Saudi Arabian Ambassador Abdullah Abdurrahman Alim was also on
hand yesterday.
Moerdiono delivered President Soeharto's farewell message to
the departing pilgrims. In it Soeharto said he wished the
pilgrims would return as haji mabrur or successful hajs; pilgrims
who are spiritually fulfilled by the rituals.
Altogether, the government has sent 458 flights and around
193,000 Indonesians to Riyadh since the haj operation was
launched on March 23. The number of flights includes seven extra
flights arranged to accommodate thousands of people whose
departure was delayed due to documentation problems early on.
The government, through the flag carrier Garuda Indonesia, has
prepared 23 wide-bodied jets for the operation.
The next phase will be to bring them home once the haj
pilgrimage is completed. The first flight back is due on May 2
and the entire operation is expected to last for about one month.
As of Friday, 88 Indonesian pilgrims have died in Saudi Arabia
this year, most suffering heart attacks.
Meanwhile, the Indonesian consulate in Jeddah reported on
Friday that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has announced that the
Day of Arafat, during which some 2.5 million pilgrims perform the
rite of wukuf or "standing" on the Plain of Arafat, is on April
27.
Based on certain calculations, the Islamic Sacrifice Day or
Idul Adha will be on April 28. The pilgrims and Moslems around
the world will celebrate the day by saying prayers in the fields
and at mosques and by slaughtering livestock.
The Ministry of Religious Affairs announced that Brunei
Darussalam, Malaysia and Singapore have agreed to celebrate Idul
Adha on the same day. In the past, differences in the
calculations have meant Moslems in many countries celebrated Idul
Adha on different dates. (01/swe)