RI to send 194,000 pilgrims

RI to send 194,000 pilgrims

JAKARTA (JP): The number of Indonesians taking part in the haj
pilgrimage this year will be just slightly over 194,000, marking
the first decline for some years.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs said that as of yesterday,
it had submitted 194,034 passports to the Saudi Arabian embassy
in Jakarta to obtain the necessary visas. The number includes
2,171 guides and officials who will accompany the pilgrims.

Last year, a record 196,854 Indonesians, including 1,992
officers, joined the pilgrimage to Mecca when Indonesia for the
first time was subjected to quota restrictions.

Officially, Indonesia's quota this year has been set at
195,000.

Ahmad Gozali, the director general of Islamic and Haj affairs
at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, said hundreds of people
canceled their plans at the last minute for various reasons.

Their seats could not be reassigned to others because the
travel arrangements and paperwork would involve more time and
effort.

Ahmad said his ministry, which coordinates the haj operation,
hopes to receive all the hopeful pilgrims' passports back from
the Saudi embassy, stamped with a Saudi visa, on Thursday.

In the past, the passports were returned by the Saudi embassy
in separate bundles. This arrangement caused chaos last year when
many of the people who were booked on the first flights out to
Mecca did not have their visas.

This year, the first of 453 flights taking Indonesian pilgrims
to Saudi Arabia will leave on March 23. The flights will depart
from five designated airports in Jakarta, Medan, Surabaya,
Ujungpandang and Balikpapan.

The haj pilgrimage will reach its peak on April 28 with Idul
Adha or Sacrifice Day. Afterwards, the government will have to
arrange the pilgrims' return journey. (01)