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.