Two die at massive Monas celebration

Two die at massive Monas celebration

JAKARTA (JP): Two people died and two others were seriously
injured during the Kenduri Nasional grand fiesta held on Saturday
night at National Monument (Monas) Park in honor of the 50th
anniversary of Indonesia's independence, police reported.

Chief of operational control of the City Police Col. Muhantojo
told the press on Saturday night that the fatalities occurred
between 9.00 p.m. and 11.00 p.m.

The victims were identified as Hamdani, 29, of Bojong, Depok,
and Khatalifah Farkus, 13, also from Depok.

Hamdani was electrocuted while trying to climb onto the roof
of an electric train at Gambir station, while Khatalifah was
trampled to death by the huge crowd adjacent to the main stage at
the national thanksgiving party.

Of the two people injured, one was identified as Syaiful. Both
were taken to the Cipto Mangunkusumo hospital, Muhantojo said.

He added that other incidents reported to the police during
the independence party included pick-pocketing and lost children.

Under control

"In general, the security situation during the fiesta was
under control, despite the fact that more than one million people
gathered here. That was because police have conducted several
security operations such as this before," Muhantojo said.

The number of participants in the fiesta massively exceeded
expectations and was classified by the City Council as a new
record for public gatherings in Indonesia.

Council Chairman H.M. Ritonga said that the fiesta's
organizing committee had expected about 300,000 people to attend
the event but that, as it transpired, over one million people
thronged Monas square.

"This is the largest number of people at Monas I have ever
seen. The gathering at Monas makes history," Ritonga said.

The organizing committee distributed 56,000 invitations to a
wide range of people, including foreign ambassadors.

Jakarta Governor Surjadi Soedirdja hailed the eagerness of
Jakartans to attend the party, saying that the city's people had
welcomed the festivities.

"Usually, Jakartans go out of town on Saturday night, but
tonight they have come here to watch all the programs of the
fiesta. This is fantastic," Surjadi said.

The situation, particularly around the main stage beneath the
National Monument, was rather crowded. Since the huge stage was
not supplemented by a video screen, most of the visitors tried to
get as close as possible to the stage.

At least 5,500 security officers and police were deployed for
the occasion, including mounted police, two helicopters and 12
police dogs.

After the Kenduri Nasional was over, at about 02:00 a.m. on
the next day, most of the revelers had to walk considerable
distances to reach their cars or to seek public transport. With
most buses overcrowded, some people even tried to board them
through the windows.

Others preferred to remain at Monas, sleeping on the grass or
on Jl. Merdeka Barat itself, using newspapers as mats.

Meanwhile, sanitary officers and scavengers were kept busy
picking up the trash scattered everywhere. The 260 rubbish bins
provided by the City Sanitation Office proved insufficient on the
night. (01)