Giri to witness major exodus

JAKARTA (JP): Minister of Communications Giri Suseno is scheduled on Saturday to witness the departure of 12,000 herbal medicine sellers at the Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The passengers in the exodus, which is sponsored by herbal medicine producer PT Sido Muncul, will be transported by 170 buses to various destinations in West and Central Java such as Cirebon, Kuningan, Tegal, Banjarnegara, Surakarta and Wonogiri.

This is the ninth such event sponsored by the company with the aim of helping provide transportation during the busy days ahead of the Idul Fitri holidays, Irwan Hidayat, one of the firm's directors, said.

"The free-of-charge transportation services are provided for the sellers to help relieve their burdens during the current economic crisis," he said. (hhr)