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)