New Year's festivities okay before Dec. 28

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)