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)