Last flight of pilgrims ends largest ever haj operation

Last flight of pilgrims ends largest ever haj operation

JAKARTA (JP): The largest ever haj operation conducted by the
government ended when the last of 355 flights bringing the Moslem
pilgrims home arrived at the Halim Perdanakusuma airport
yesterday.

The operation, to send some 165,000 pilgrims to Saudi Arabia,
was not without its share of controversy.

The pilgrims on the last flight were welcomed by Minister of
Religious Affairs Tarmizi Taher, Minister of Transportation
Haryanto Dhanutirto, Minister of Health Sujudi, Chairman of the
Indonesian Ulemas Council Hasan Basri, Jakarta Vice Governor R.S.
Moeseno and Abdurrahman M.A. Buchori of the Saudi Embassy.

Despite the government's effort to reduce the number of
fatalities during the pilgrimage, this year still saw a record of
638 Indonesian pilgrims die, mostly of aging related illnesses.
Seven of the dead pilgrims were killed during a stampede in Mina.

For Moslems to die during the course of a holy pilgrimage is
considered a blessing and this is one reason why many people,
despite their health, insist on joining, often duping the health
authorities.

In percentage terms, casualties represented about 0.4 percent
of the total pilgrims, compared to 0.3 percent last year when
Indonesia sent some 123,000 pilgrims.

Minister of Health Sujudi explained that over 55 percent of
those who died in Saudi Arabia were over 60 years old. "But we
cannot stop those old people from observing the haj."

Sujudi reminded all Indonesians who want to go on haj next
year to take the cold weather in Saudi Arabia into consideration.
"Next year will be much colder than this year, especially during
the nights."

Noting that the number of Indonesia pilgrims exceeded the
quota of 160,000 pilgrims, Tarmizi thanked the government of
Saudi Arabia for tolerating the matter.

For next year, Tarmizi said Indonesia will propose a higher
quota. The new quota will be decided together among ministers of
religious affairs from countries of the Islamic Conference
Organization, who will convene in Mecca later this year.

Touching on the fare that must be paid to go on haj, Tarmizi
promised that next year's fare will not be much more than the Rp
6.9 million (US$3,280) this year.

He said that much depends on the dollar exchange rate given
that the majority of the expenses, notably the air fares, are
denominated in the U.S. dollar.

Commenting on why the Indonesian government-mandated haj fare
is so much higher than standard tour packages or the cost in
Malaysia, Minister Haryanto said Indonesia has to charter planes
to carry its 165,000 pilgrims. Each passenger virtually has to
pay two return airfares because during the operation to send out
the pilgrims, the flights returned from Saudi Arabia empty and
during the operation to fly them home, the planes leave Jakarta
empty, he said.

This means that the airfares a pilgrim has to pay are more
expensive than if he had flown on scheduled flights.

"You cannot compare us with Malaysia, who only send around
20,000 each year, all of them accommodated by regularly scheduled
flights. But for our huge number of pilgrims, we cannot use
regular flights anymore. So, we chartered planes because Garuda
does not have enough planes," Haryanto said.

He also stated that this year's haj transportation management
was better than last year's. The number of delayed flights this
year was only 4.3 percent, thanks to the good condition of the
plane operators. "Most of the delays were caused by the pilgrims
who were late in entering the airports," Haryanto said.

Rejection

The minister rejected the money saving proposals to end Garuda
Indonesia's virtual monopoly on haj flights.

"If they (private air services) have planes and want to help,
they can lease their planes to Garuda," Haryanto said.

He also said that he had asked Saudi Air to help carry
Indonesian pilgrims, but the request was turned down. "But if
they're willing to take on Indonesian pilgrims next year, we'll
welcome the gesture."

This year's pilgrimage was nearly derailed for some pilgrims
when the government threatened to prevent those leaving through
private arrangements rather than through the costly state-
sponsored program.

The government insisted that in the future, all Indonesian
pilgrims must travel on brown passports specially issued by the
government to ensure that all pilgrims use the national service.

Tarmizi promised yesterday that before the pilgrims depart
next year, the government will issue a ruling on those who go on
haj with a normal passport. (11)