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)