Somber mood hangs over New Year's celebrations
Somber mood hangs over New Year's celebrations
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Instead of the big fireworks displays and deafening firecrackers
usually let off to mark the new year, Jakarta was filled with the
chant of prayers for victims of the earthquake and deadly tidal
wave that killed at least 80,000 people in Aceh alone.
However, the toned-down celebrations were marred by two small
explosions in the conflict-hit town of Poso, Southeast Sulawesi.
The first explosion, a homemade bomb planted on Jl. Pulau
Bali, exploded at about 12:45 a.m. on Saturday, followed by a
second blast on Jl. Kalimantan several minutes later.
Poso Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Abdi Darma said there were no
fatalities in the incidents, while investigation into the blasts
had started.
The traffic in Jakarta was relatively relaxed on Friday night,
except around the centers of celebrations at Ancol Dreamland Park
in North Jakarta, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in East Jakarta, Jl.
Kemang Raya in South Jakarta, as well as around the Bung Karno
sports complex, the TVRI compound, around the National Monument
Park and the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle in Central Jakarta,
which was tightly guarded by the police.
Although quieter than previous years, thousands of Jakartans
took to the streets, many of them walking towards the Hotel
Indonesia traffic circle.
While they sounded paper trumpets, dozens of students grouped
nearby prayed and lit candles for the dead in Aceh.
In line with calls made by Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso for party
organizers to scale down their celebrations and to instead raise
money for the tsunami victims, events across the city raised
billions of rupiah for Aceh.
Sutiyoso, accompanied by Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo and his
subordinates, attended the changing of the year celebrations at
Ancol Dreamland Park and opened the event by sounding a trumpet
and leading a prayer for the tsunami victims.
However, celebrations across the capital again took their
toll. At least seven people died in traffic accidents on Friday.
Their remains were taken to the morgue at Cipto Mangunkusumo
General Hospital, Central Jakarta. Three of the victims were
women.
Sixteen people were treated at the hospital's emergency ward
for injuries in traffic accidents, while two other people
sustained stab wounds.
On Saturday, two more bodies were sent to the morgue,
including the remains of Johannes, 25, who had been shot in the
head.
At least 10,000 people went Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta on
Saturday, zoo spokeswoman Titisari Puntorini said, adding that a
similar number was expected on Sunday.
"I prefer to take my family to the zoo because it's affordable
and fun," Depok resident Budi Sulaiman was quoted as saying by
Antara.