On New Year's Eve, fun is over at 4 a.m.
On New Year's Eve, fun is over at 4 a.m.
JAKARTA (JP): City police have warned all New Year's Eve party
organizers to limit celebrations only until four o'clock in the
morning.
"Remember, the festivities will have to be finished by the time
the adzan subuh (Moslem call for morning prayer) is heard," Deputy
to City Police Chief Brig. Gen. Dibyo Widodo told a meeting of
senior police officers yesterday.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, city police spokesman Lt.
Col. Bambang Haryoko quoted Dibyo that those who were found
disobeying the warning will be punished under the available
measures.
During the meeting Dibyo also urged the public to get to
celebration venues as early as possible in order to avoid the
possibility of route changes, made by police in order to keep the
traffic flow smooth.
In celebrating New Year's Eve almost all pubs, restaurants, hotels
and other entertainment centers in Greater Jakarta hold parties.
A large number of companies and organizations also hold special
events at certain places, like hotels and parks, to celebrate New
Year's Eve.
According to Bambang, the center for New Year's Eve festivities
this year will be at Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta, which will
present a series of noted performers, including comedians, musician
and singers.
"A number of city officials, including the governor, will also be
at Ancol," the police spokesman said.
Similar festivities will be held at different public sites,
including the Indonesia-in-Miniature Park in East Jakarta.
This year no event will be held in the Monas (National Monument)
park near the Bina Graha presidential palace in Central Jakarta.
"The public are allowed to visit the park as long as they park
their vehicles in the proper place," Bambang said.
Monas park is well known to many Jakartans, especially the lower-
income residents, because its location and the type of entertainment
there meets their demands. However, many food stall owners at the
park usually double or triple their prices during such an event.
Trumpet sellers
Prior to, as well as during, the New Year's Eve celebrations,
trumpet traders flock Jakarta with their colorful merchandise.
Youngsters, couples walking along the streets and people in cars
usually begin blowing trumpets hours before midnight, New Year's
Eve.
"We hope the trumpet traders can sell their goods without blocking
the public's way," Bambang said.
He said yesterday's meeting of senior officers also discussed
security and the monitoring of foreign artists who will be
performing at New Year's Eve parties, but did not give further
explanation.
December raid
During the meeting, all police precinct chiefs in the city
reported the results of their latest anti-crime operation, carried
out in the first three weeks of this month, in their respective
area.
Based on copies of the data provided to the press, the Central
Jakarta police reported having seized 11 vehicles and netted four
people without identity cards and 13 beggars. North Jakarta seized
one motorcycle and 150 bottles of spirits and arrested three
criminals. West Jakarta seized three motorcycles. South Jakarta
seized two motorcycles, one car and a gun and arrested six
criminals, two beggars and a man with no ID card. East Jakarta
seized four cars, six motorcycles, a small amount of drugs and 20
bottles of spirits.
The Tanjung Priok port police reported that they seized four
motorcycles, Bekasi two motorcycles and Depok four cars.
Tangerang police reported they seized a staggering 32 motorcycles,
11 cars, nine guns, a few grams of narcotics, 234 bottles of spirits
and arrested 687 prostitutes. (bsr)