Modest celebrations urged in Aceh

Modest celebrations urged in Aceh

BANDA ACEH, Aceh: The police here appealed on Monday to all sides, including foreigners, to celebrate New Year's in Aceh modestly.

"We ask people and foreigners here on humanitarian missions not to stage major events, particularly to welcome the new year in the province," Aceh Police spokesman Sr. Comr. Djoko Turochman said in Banda Aceh, the provincial capital city.

He said mass celebrations could disturb people living in the vicinity and those who organized them were subject to criminal charges.

"Our state law stipulates that to stage any event one must obtain permission. So it's clear that if any celebration disturbs the peace, it is against the law," Djoko said.

He said there would be no Christmas and New Year's celebrations in Aceh -- a devout Muslim province -- as in other years.

Local legislative councillors supported the police's suggestion. "I call on all sides to commemorate the first anniversary of the Dec. 26 tsunami by not holding events that lead to revelry and mubadzir (uselessness) because it is against sharia," Aceh legislative council member Jamaluddin T. Muku said. --Antara