Security of New Year's parties guaranteed

Security of New Year's parties guaranteed

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration guaranteed the security
of hotels, cafes, cinemas, restaurants and other recreational
places holding parties to celebrate New Year's Eve, an official
said on Monday.

Deputy Governor for Administrative Affairs Abdul Kahfi said
the guarantee was given in regard to a series of threats from
certain groups who have demanded the total closure of nightspots
during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan.

"The administration will guarantee security for places holding
parties. We'll coordinate further with the city police," Kahfi
told reporters at the City Hall.

He insisted that all places, except discotheques and
nightclubs, would be allowed to hold New Year's Eve parties to
welcome the arrival of the year 2000 as long as the owners could
meet existing city regulations.

Governor Sutiyoso, through gubernatorial instruction No.
273/1999 issued on Nov. 16, initially allowed all nightspots --
including discotheques and nightclubs -- to hold New Year's Eve
parties under certain conditions, due to the eve coinciding with
Ramadhan.

Among the conditions were events should be focused on thanking
God and self-introspection; be appropriate to Muslims still
celebrating the fasting month; feature Indonesian culture and; be
able to boost the spirit of revelers to work harder in the new
millennium and unite as a nation.

Discotheques and nightclubs were then banned from opening at
all during the fasting month and for seven days after it in a
gubernatorial decree No. 62/1999 issued on Dec. 17. The move
followed a series of threats and attacks on various nightspots in
the capital.

Kahfi said the administration urged residents to restrain
themselves from taking justice into their own hands.

"City residents should file reports to the city authorities if
they find any violations, instead of taking vigilante action on
their own," he said.

"We all have to avoid the impression that there is no law and
order anymore in the capital city."

Tenda Semanggi

Unlike last New Year's Eves, when operators of nightspots were
strictly prohibited from celebrating as it also coincided with
Ramadhan, many hoteliers, restaurateurs and cinema owners are
this week busy preparing parties for their customers.

Operators of Kafe Tenda Semanggi, a large foodcourt located in
Sudirman Central Business District in South Jakarta, have even
hired a pawang hujan (a shaman that, it is believed, can
influence rainfall) for their show.

"The events here will be focused on our traditional culture
and have an Islamic touch," Eppi P. Soeriawidjaja, the site's
owner, told reporters on Friday.

Under the theme Fenomena 2000, the events would include, among
others, singer Reza, DR. PM band and Didi Petet. It would also
feature a Chinese Barongsai dragon dance and fireworks, Eppi
said.

As usual, all of the site's 120 cafes would be decorated in a
fancy and cozy way.

"Governor Sutiyoso is expected to visit here at 8:30 p.m,"
Eppi said.

The governor will mark the changing of the millennium in
Jakarta by sounding a giant bende (traditional cymbal) weighing
2.5 tonnes at Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta. Performers Nano
and Ratna Riantiarno, Nungky Kusumastuti and Neno Warisman will
entertain the crowd.

Star-rated hotels, such as Acacia Hotel, Omni Batavia Hotel,
Borobudur Intercontinental Hotel, Dhusit Mangga Dua Hotel,
Sheraton Hotel, Kempinski Hotel Plaza and Raddin Ancol Hotel are
also offering special events and menus.

At Kempinski Hotel, for instance, Rp 999,999 net will mean
guests get a special dinner, plus unlimited beer or soft drinks.
Another packet, the "Millennium Dinner Exclusive" costs Rp
1,299,999 net and includes unlimited beer, soft drinks, imported
champagnes or wines. One lucky visitor will win a door prize of a
trip to Germany and Beijing.

Omni Batavia has decided to present a Chinese acrobatic from
Beijing for their New Year's Eve guests.

No special events have been arranged at the Jakarta Hilton
International Hotel. But live music is still available in its
restaurants.

Fashion Cafe restaurant is offering a set menu at Rp 300,000
net. A standing festival dinner is offered at half the price.
Live music for the special evening will be performed by actress
Dewi Sandra, Denny and Didon and the Prime Band.

Unlike the Jakarta administration, authorities in the
neighboring town of Bogor, a popular site for Jakartans to spend
weekends, have barred owners of any night and entertainment spots
-- including hotels, discotheques, pubs and cafes -- to hold any
kind of parties on their premises.

The decision was announced on Monday by E. Rukanda, the head
of Bogor's Office of Social Political Affairs.

"If any owners insist on conducting entertainment, the
authorities will immediately stop the show," Rukanda told
reporters.

He said his office had received many requests from nightspots
to hold special changing-of-the-millennium events for their
customers.

The ban is based on a joint agreement with the local police,
who have also decided not to issue any permits from three days
prior to the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan until seven days
after Idul Fitri, Rukanda explained.

He said the joint agreement was also based on inputs from
local Muslim leaders, who strongly urged the authorities to
temporarily close all nightspots during the fasting month.

"The places are only allowed to hold breaking of-the-fast
gathering and tarawih (Ramadhan evening prayer) gatherings," he
said.

Rukanda reminded the public the authorities would this time
enforce the decision on everyone without special treatment in a
bid to avoid possible religious conflicts in Bogor.

Therefore, he asked organizers of a cultural event on New
Year's Eve in a hotel in Bogor to first seek the proper permit
for the show, entitled Genta Budaya Malam Seribu Tahun Nusantara
(Echoes of 1,000 Years of Indonesian Culture).

Rukanda suggested the Jakarta-based show organizers obtain a
permit in Jakarta before attempting to hold the event at the
Salak Hotel in Bogor.

Many places are trying to hold special events to raise the
price of their rooms and entrance fees. (05/bsr/ind/21)