Threats fail to stop revelry

Threats fail to stop revelry

JAKARTA (JP): New Year's Eve celebrations went forward in the
capital with hundreds of thousands of people pouring onto the
city's main thoroughfares despite a number of bomb threats
earlier in the evening.

People from all walks of life honked car horns, blew cardboard
trumpets and set off firecrackers as the clock struck midnight on
Sunday, marking the start of the new millennium.

"Revelers carried on as usual although they heard about the
bomb threats," said Lira Dachlan, the public relations manager at
the Gran Mahakam hotel in South Jakarta, which was swept by the
police bomb squad after a briefcase was found in front of the
hotel's gate at about 9 p.m. on Sunday.

A metal detector showed there was something metallic inside
the briefcase, but it turned out to be a component of a sound
system, police said.

Some guests, however, were seen leaving the hotel in apparent
anxiety.

National Police chief Gen. Surojo Bimantoro thanked the people
for helping the police maintain peace and security during New
Year's Eve celebrations throughout the country.

"There were no significant incidents, the situation was
relatively conducive and the public helped maintain stability. We
hope that the situation continues," Bimantoro said after
attending a closed-door meeting with Jakarta Police chief Insp.
Gen. Mulyono Sulaiman in the early hours on Monday.

Bimantoro said several bomb threats were called in on New
Year's Eve, but they all turned out to be hoaxes.

The Djakarta movie theater and Cikini Hospital in Central
Jakarta received bomb threats at 3:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. on
Sunday, respectively.

Also, the bomb squad was called in to investigate a suspicious
car parked near Theresia Church in Central Jakarta, but no bomb
was found.

"The car was parked alone near the church. Becoming
suspicious, officers checked it out and saw a package inside.

"The bomb squad arrived to check it out, but soon after the
car's owner came by and claimed the vehicle. Apparently he just
parked the car too long," a duty officer at the scene said.

The package in the car only contained several bottles of
alcohol.

Bimantoro said the police were able to take swift action
thanks to the public's awareness immediately to alert the police
of anything suspicious.

The police are investigating a spate of earlier bombings, but
there are as yet no clues that point to the involvement of any
particular party, the general said.

There were a number of minor injuries during New Year's Eve
celebrations in the capital. Eight people were injured by
exploding firecrackers and three others were hurt in traffic
accidents. They were all treated at Cipto Mangunkusumo General
Hospital.

Twenty minutes after midnight, a fireworks rocket set off from
among the crowd gathered at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle
ended up in Room 2116 of the Grand Hyatt Hotel, burning the twin
bed.

The rocket, a some 20-centimeter-long aluminum shell about
five centimeters in diameter, smashed the room's window and
landed on the bed.

A hotel employee said the room was occupied by four people,
who were celebrating in the hotel's ballroom at the time of the
incident. They soon checked out of the hotel, as did several
guests staying in nearby rooms.

As in previous years, the most popular places for revelers
were the National Monument (Monas) and the Hotel Indonesia
traffic circle in Central Jakarta, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah in
East Jakarta and Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta.

At the stroke of midnight in Ancol, Governor Sutiyoso shot a
flare into the air as dozens of paper lanterns floated into the
sky and a huge gold-covered gong was struck.

Thousands of fireworks lit up the sky as those gathered hugged
and shook hands, wishing each other a happy New Year.

Around the water fountain at the traffic circle in front of
Hotel Indonesia and along Jl. Thamrin, thousands of pedestrians
and motorists mixed together, resulting in a massive traffic jam.

"I come here every year with my children and my husband,"
Endang, a cook at Hotel Indonesia, said between the pops of
firecrackers.

She said she was not worried about bombs because her husband,
a police detective, told her police had tightened security for
the night.

More than 70,000 people gathered near the Pancasila monument
in Taman Mini danced to the sound of popular dangdut singer Rhoma
Irama and his band Soneta. The band entertained the crowd with
such popular songs as Adu Domba, Stress and Kuch Kuch Ho Ta Hai.

The management of Taman Mini also provided a huge trumpet to
entertain revelers. The trumpet cost about Rp 7 million and was
made by Kusyanto.

The red, gold, green and silver trumpet is seven meters long
and weighs 124 kilograms. It was presented to the Indonesian
Museum of Records after the festivities.
(02/07/21/bby/edt/hdn/lup)