New Year's festivities okay before Dec. 28

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has decided to allow entertainment businesses to hold New Year's celebrations before Dec. 28, the Public Order Agency announced yesterday.

Toha Reno, head of the agency's public order and entertainment subdivision, said that the municipality will provide permits to selected nightspots.

The decision follows a gubernatorial decree which bans the operation of all nightspots for six days during the Ramadhan fasting month, including the first day of fasting which coincides with New Year's Eve.

"Some of the owners of entertainment spots have come up with the idea to move their New Year's celebrations forward (so they can be held) before the fasting month begins," Toha said.

"And, currently, the municipality is considering their requests and will issue permits selectively. It means that if the event does not have a potential to cause a public disturbance then the municipality will gladly issue the permits."

He said the proposed parties would be held on Saturday, Dec. 27, in several entertainment centers such as the Ancol Recreational Park, North Jakarta; Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta and Jakarta Fair Ground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta.

The city administration had earlier issued a gubernatorial decree banning the operation of discotheques, cafes, massage parlors, live music centers, billiard houses and nightclubs for six days during the fasting month, which is expected to start on Dec. 31.

Decree No.437/1997, dated Nov. 26, listed the affected days as the first day of Ramadhan, one day before Idul Fitri, the two public holidays and the day after Idul Fitri.

One of the decree's 10 instructions banned nightspots from holding New Year's Eve parties this year because the date marks the start of the fasting month.

"I think it is fair for the entertainment business owners to stage a celebration before the fasting month to accommodate people's new year spirit.

"Jakarta is a diverse, metropolitan and international city. Therefore, it's important to give the residents a chance to be happy and provide them with opportunities to release their emotions."

Toha also revealed the security plans for the city during the festive season, which included deploying 500 officers from the public order agency and other related bodies.

"We will also coordinate this with Jakarta Police and Jakarta Military Command. So it will amount to thousands of officers."

His office has started its festive season crackdown by curbing the distribution of firecrackers in North Jakarta.

"Some 2,000 kilograms of firecrackers were seized during a city order operation last week."

Besides firecrackers, the pre-festive operation -- which started last month and will end Christmas Eve -- was planned to put in order sidewalk vendors, entertainment spots and the distribution of liquor, meat, food and beverages.

The next crackdown, Operation Candle, will be held from Dec. 25 1997 to Jan. 7 1998 and the control and supervision of bus terminals, railway stations, entertainment centers, places of worships and crime-prone locations will be intensified.

The post-festive operation will be held from Jan. 8 to Feb. 7, and continue the cleanup of sidewalk vendors and supervise the influx of holiday revelers from other cities.

"The operation will continue up until Ramadhan, Idul Fitri and the March meeting of the People's Consultative Assembly," Toha said.

He identified the city's riot-prone areas as Tanah Abang, Senen and Kemayoran in Central Jakarta; Pulo Gadung in East Jakarta; Hayam Wuruk and Gajah Mada, Kota in West Jakarta; Koja and Kramat Tunggak in North Jakarta and Blok M in South Jakarta.

"I urge people to be careful and not to flaunt their belongings because during this season there are many thieves, pickpockets and robbers operating in the city, especially in crowded places."

Harun Al Rasyid, deputy governor for economic and financial affairs, told reporters that the city has prepared for the festive season by gathering additional staple food stocks.

"We will add some 10 to 20 percent to staple food stocks, such as rice, coconut oil and flour to prevent any price hikes," Harun said.

He urged Jakartans not to worry about, instead "let's just celebrate it". (edt)