Peaceful, safe celebrations mark Idul Fitri across country
The Jakarta Post, Indramayu/Ambon/Semarang
Despite a string of road accidents and a bombing incident, Indonesian Muslims celebrated Idul Fitri in relative peace and safety across the archipelago, including restive areas.
On the second day of the Idul Fitri holiday on Wednesday, people flocked to amusement parks or tourist resorts for a fun- filled day with families, friends or relatives.
In the single bombing incident, a low-explosive bomb exploded early on Wednesday on Jl. Pulau Irian in Poso, Central Sulawesi; no fatalities were reported.
Sectarian conflict has rocked Poso since 1999, and despite the government-sponsored Malino accord in November 2001, violence has been rekindled and tension still prevails in the regency.
In the Maluku capital of Ambon, Muslims celebrated Idul Fitri in peace, alongside their Christian neighbors.
Thousands of Ambonese Muslims descended on Tuesday upon Al Fatah Mosque, the largest mosque in the city, for the Idul Fitri prayers marking the end of the Ramadhan fasting month.
Police and Indonesian Military (TNI) security personnel could still be seen safeguarding the event, but most were unarmed, a notable difference from previous years.
The prayer was attended by local leaders, including Maluku deputy governor Muhammad Abdullah Latuconsina, Maluku Police chief Brig. Gen. Bambang Sutrisno and Pattimura military command chief Brig. Gen. Syarifuddin Sumah.
The prayer was led by noted intellectual Nurcholis Madjid. After the prayer, he called on Maluku Muslims, along with their Christian counterparts, to maintain peace in Maluku.
Maluku was rocked by sectarian conflict in 1999. Thousands have been killed and hundreds of thousands of others have sought refuge from the bloodshed on other islands in the years since.
Peace returned to Maluku this year, after another government- sponsored Malino peace accord was signed by the warring Muslim and Christian parties in 2002.
In Aceh Nanggroe Darussalam, thousands of Acehnese celebrated Idul Fitri in refugee camps across the province due to the prolonged war between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) separatists.
Antara reported that 7,201 Acehnese were in refugee camps in Central Aceh, South Aceh, Southwest Aceh, Aceh Tamiang, East Aceh and Nagan Raya districts.
Burhanuddin, spokesman of the Aceh social affairs office, said on Tuesday that the refugees have been in the camps for over three months.
Aceh has been under martial law since May 19, and may be for another six months following a recent extension by Jakarta.
The military operation, which includes a humanitarian program, aims to crush the separatists.
In the Acehnese capital of Banda Aceh, the main thoroughfares were deserted as people celebrated Idul Fitri at home.
Meanwhile, a string of accidents occurred nationwide over the Idul Fitri holiday.
The Central Java Police reported that at least 13 people were killed in road accidents in the province from Nov. 17 to Nov. 24. In addition, a boat capsized in Makassar, killing six people. The latest accident occurred in Indramayu, in which four members of a single family died on Wednesday in a road accident.
The string of accidents, however, did not deter people from traveling to tourist resorts on the second day of Idul Fitri.
In the West Sumatra town of Bukittinggi, roads leading to the Jam Gadang and Pasar Atas tourist resorts were heavily congested with holidaymakers.
In Yogyakarta, thousands journeyed to the historic Prambanan temple, while in downtown Yogyakarta, many more observed the traditional Idul Fitri function, Grebeg Syawal, held by the Yogyakarta sultanate.