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)