New Year's in 2000 to be a quiet affair?
JAKARTA (JP): Most major cities around the world are already in the throes of preparing a huge bash for New Year's Eve 1999 -- to welcome the new millennium.
But Jakarta is in a quandary and still pondering what to do.
The city is home to 10 million people, about 90 percent of whom are Moslems, but authorities have not determined whether to allow Jakartans to hold New Year's parties on Dec. 31, 1999 because it falls in the third week of the annual Ramadhan fasting month.
When asked whether the municipality would ban people and entertainment businesses from holding New Year's Eve parties to welcome the third millennium -- as has been the case this year -- Governor Sutiyoso could not give a direct answer.
But he promised to try and satisfy everyone because, as he has said, Jakarta is an international city.
"I understand that the change from 1999 to 2000 will fall during Ramadhan. I also understand the necessity to celebrate New Year's Eve.
"We will discuss it next year," Sutiyoso said.
In Gubernatorial Decree No. 437/1997, dated Nov. 26, Sutiyoso banned New Year's Eve parties in hotels and entertainment spots because they may disturb fasting Moslems. Ramadhan is expected to start Wednesday.
Such parties had to be held before yesterday.
The management of Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta, for instance, held its fireworks fiesta on Friday and Saturday to commemorate New Year's Eve.
Many Jakartans believe it will be hard for the city administration to decide what to do for the 1999 New Year's Eve celebrations.
"But I hope the municipality will come up with a wise decision that is, for example, to allow Jakartans to hold parties, but nothing too sensational which might offend the feelings of those who are observing Ramadhan," a native Jakartan, who is a Moslem, said.
"Because we all know that there are certain groups of people that want to celebrate the start of the new millennium," he said. "It's true that it's a once-in-a-lifetime occasion for everyone on earth."
Sutiyoso halfheartedly shared this opinion.
"Jakarta is already an open society. Its people come from different nations, religions and economic, social and ethnic backgrounds. Therefore, being part of the millennium celebrations is like being together with the whole world," the governor said.
Early fiesta
In line with Sutiyoso's instruction, a number of entertainment venues in the city held this year's New Year's Eve parties on Saturday evening.
Thousands of Jakartans turned up to celebrate, listen to live music and watch spectacular fireworks displays.
The parties took place at, among others, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta, Jakarta Fairground in Kemayoran, Central Jakarta and Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta.
The ceremony at TMII was held in front of the huge Indonesia- in-miniature park.
It was livened up with performances by some noted dangdut singers and bands, with the event broadcast live by the privately owned Televisi Pendidikan Indonesia television station.
For a cover charge of Rp 5,000, revelers enjoyed performances by their favorite singers, including Rhoma Irama, Elvie Sukaesih, Jaja Miharja and Ike Nurjanah.
The music show ended with the lighting of thousands of firecrackers and followed by a late-night wayang kulit (shadow puppet) show by famous puppeteer Ki Dalang Anom Suroto.
A large crowd gathered at Jakarta Fairground to watch fireworks, dance to nostalgic hits performed by Gang Pegangsaan and Cockpit Band and listen to singers including Chrisye and Berlian Hutauruk.
Ancol Dreamland staged a spectacular fireworks display at its former drive-in theater on Saturday evening to commemorate New Year's Eve and Christmas.
Before the fireworks -- which started at 9 p.m. -- world- renowned trumpeter Kenny G. and several local artists performed along with dangdut singer Evi Tamala and bands such as Stinky, BaseJam, Bias and the children's group Trio Kwek-Kwek. (edt/bsr/04)