Idul Fitri revelers brave congestion, rains and flooding

Idul Fitri revelers brave congestion, rains and flooding

JAKARTA (JP): Some crisis-stricken residents are preparing to
gather with families and celebrate Idul Fitri with whatever they
have, braving much larger risks than in previous years.

Apart from the usual congestion, there have been landslides
and floods, worsening roads, the danger of looters faced by
homebound urban workers, and possible riots on the routes they
must pass. To top it all off, soaring prices have been a major
headache for many.

Late Sunday Antara reported that the Ministry of Religious
Affairs has ruled that Idul Fitri this year falls on Tuesday.

The decree followed a consensus among representatives of
different Muslim organizations in a meeting called isbat, and is
based on reports from religious groups throughout the country on
the sighting of the moon.

Despite official warnings given to exodus travelers, accidents
have still occurred in the lead-up to the celebrations. At least
five people died on Saturday morning in an accident in Brebes,
Central Java, when a speeding minivan and an inter-city bus
collided. The driver and a 2.5-year old infant were among the
fatalities, and eight others were injured, Antara reported.

Saturday night saw a five kilometer queue of vehicles, mostly
from Jakarta, along the north coast in Brebes, with thousands
spending about five hours stuck in traffic.

Antara reported that in Purwokerto, a train passenger,
Winarsih, 19, received serious head injuries when a stone smashed
through the window as the train passed Kebumen district.
According to Masduki Achmad, head of the state-owned railway
company, stone pelting happened almost every day during Ramadhan.

Also in Lampung, heavy rains cut off villages in Central
Lampung, West Lampung and Tanggamus regency, Antara said.

"This has made it difficult for people to sell crops at nearby
markets, so they can't meet their needs for the Idul Fitri
festivities," Suwarto, a resident said.

In Kendari, Southeast Sulawesi, passengers faced arbitrary bus
ticket increases, with bus companies claiming the government was
slow to announce the 35 percent official mark-up.

In Bandung, West Java, Minister of Communications Giri Suseno
was quoted as saying Sunday that he had received reports that
several favorite bus companies had violated the 35 percent
increase limit.

He was seen at the Bandung railway station questioning
passengers, many of which were unaware he was the minister.

He added he was impressed that many travelers along the north
coast had opted to travel by motorbikes. "This is very
interesting, but also worrying" regarding drivers' and
passengers' safety, he said.

In Palu, Central Sulawesi, thousands of people were on Sunday
preparing to enliven the traditional citing of takbiran (praises
to Allah) on the eve of Idul Fitri. Many people there also spent
the last few days of fasting on the beach, Antara reported.

In the country's second largest city, Surabaya, the agency
reported the number of vehicles counted in three hours on certain
main roads had at least doubled from 700 in regular days, mainly
around shopping centers, to 1,400 in the few days nearing Idul
Fitri and was expected to reach 1,600 on the day of Idul Fitri.

In Cilacap, 13 political prisoners from three separate
detention centers in Nusa Kambangan could count themselves lucky
to go home for the celebrations. Darmono, head of the local
prosecutor's office, said on Saturday that they had received
clemency from President B.J. Habibie. Seven were to face 25 years
in jail and six had been sentenced to life. They were all
imprisoned in 1988 on subversion charges for their actions in
Lampung, in what was officially a rebellion, led by Warsidi.

In Malang, markets saw long lines of shoppers hunting
kerosene. Where it could be found, prices had jumped by 50
percent, Antara reported, from Rp 550 to Rp 750.

In Dili, East Timor, Muslims were preparing to attend a
gathering on the first day of Idul Fitri with the head of Dili's
Catholic church, Bishop Carlos Filipe Ximenes Belo,in Kampong
Alor, where Islam first came to the province, Antara reported
Saturday. (01/45/29)