People advised to go to hometowns early

People advised to go to hometowns early

JAKARTA (JP): Police urged Idul Fitri holidaymakers yesterday to leave the city as soon as possible in order to help reduce the unavoidable heavy traffic congestion.

"As the school holidays will start next week, it might be better for families to begin their Idul Fitri holidays as soon as possible," National Police spokesman Brig. Gen. I.K. Ratta told reporters.

By doing so, Ratta said, the holidaymakers could arrive at their hometowns in time to avoid the heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic, which always occurs along the roads stretching from Jakarta to cities and towns in Java and Sumatra on the days leading up to the Idul Fitri celebrations.

"The sooner, the better," he said.

This year, the Islamic holidays of Idul Fitri, a feast day celebrating the end of the Ramadhan fasting month, fall on Feb. 20 and 21.

Traditionally, people living in the city flock to their hometowns to spend the Idul Fitri holidays together with their families, neighbors and friends.

As this year's holidays fall on Tuesday and Wednesday many believe offices in Jakarta will remain empty until the following week.

This year's Idul Fitri will coincide with the Chinese New Year (Imlek) which falls just one day before the Moslem holiday.

Many employees, mostly Moslems, normally take their annual leave during this period.

The Ministry of Transportation estimates that 1.8 million people will leave Jakarta for their hometowns, an increase of 15 percent from 1.6 million last year.

Besides thronging the roads, the annual Idul Fitri exodus also happens at Soekarno-Hatta airport, railway stations and seaports.

Travel agency operators claim that many tickets have been booked.

According to Ratta, two-third of the city's 187,000 police officers will be deployed to ensure the Idul Fitri celebrations go smoothly.

None of the 125,000 officers are allowed to take leave during the seven days before and after the Idul Fitri holidays, Ratta said.

"The officers have no choice but spend the Idul Fitri holidays supervising the flow of traffic on the roads," he said.

He also warned those who travel by cars for the Idul Fitri holidays to be careful of possible robbers operating on the lonely roads.

"Alternatively, we'd like to suggest people to take their holidays sooner and come back to the city immediately," Ratta said. (bsr)