TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS DURING LEBARAN DROP 30 PERCENT

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 19 (Antara) - The number of traffic accidents usually increases sharply during Eid Al-Ftri or Lebaran season, as millions of people heading to their hometowns to celebrate Eid festivities pack the roads.          However, the government has made its best to reduce the traffic accidents during this year's Lebaran season through the launch of 'Operation Ketupat 2018' by the Indonesian National Police (Polri).          The number of accidents during the Ketupat Operation 2018, from Wednesday (June 7) (H-8) to Monday (June 18) (H + 3), was 1,478 cases , or 30 percent, down compared to the same period in 2017.         "From H-8 to H + 3 Lebaran, the number of traffic accidents was recorded at 1,478 incidents, down 30 percent compared to that during the operation 'Ramadniya Ops' in the previous year, which reached 2,110 incidents," Head of the Public Information Bureau of the National Police Brigadier General Mohammad Iqbal stated in a short message to Antara on Tuesday.

WELCOMING LEBARAN DAY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, June 22 (Antara) - The Eid al-Fitr or Lebaran Day, which is celebrated next Sunday in Indonesia, is the culmination of the month-long fasting rituals of Muslims, when they offer their prayers and thanks to Almighty.         President Joko Widodo, who over the past few years had celebrated the Lebaran festivities in vrious regions, is expected to perform his Lebaran prayers at Istiqlal Grand Mosque in Jakarta this year.         "The president is scheduled to conduct his Eid prayers in Jakarta, probably at the Istiqlal Mosque," State Secretary of the Cabinet Ministers Pramono Anung said at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Thursday.         Indonesian Muslims are now in the last week of the fasting month, and the Ramadan month will end next Saturday (June 24). This means that Muslims in Indonesia are now ready to welcome the Lebaran Day, a day during which Muslims of the world flock to the mosques, squares, and other open places to perform their Eid prayers and to offer their gratitude to the Almighty.         During the days of the fasting month, Muslims throughout the world undergo a spiritual cleansing by restraining from passion and abstaining from food and drinks from dawn until the sun sets.

ECHOES OF DRUMS MARK TAKBIRAN NIGHT

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 17 (Antara) -- Muslims across the country expressed their happiness on Thursday night by conducting 'Takbiran' rituals (chanting God's magnificent name) to welcome the festival of Eid, after having fasted for Ramadan.          Traditionally called 'Malam Takbiran' or Takbiran Night, the ritual is held in different places such as mosques, musholla (warship houses), and squares, or even on mobile vehicles driven around the city, highlighted with echoes of God's name being chanted.          An important musical instrument used during the Takbiran festivity is the wooden drum made of the hide of cow, buffalo or goat. The drum is beaten to the tune of the chants.          As the drum is struck repeatedly in tune with the chants, it reinforces a sense of spirituality among Muslims who have been purified after fasting for a month.          The percussion instrument has been used traditionally for hundreds of years and is basically a means of communication in religious ceremonies. The drum is placed in a mosque, as well, to be sounded when it is time to perform prayers.

'LEBARAN' EXPECTED TO 'REUNITE' PEOPLE AFTER ELECTIONS

By Andi Abdussalam		\
Jakarta, July 28 (Antara) - The Indonesian people appear divided into two camps following the recent presidential election on July 9, 2014, but the post-fasting month Idul Fitri or Lebaran festivities are expected to reunite them.          The elected president and vice president have emphasized that the Idul Fitri or Lebaran festivities serve as a momentum for the people's 'reunification.'     The offer to make the Idul Fitri holiday an occasion to 'reunite' and maintain peace was expressed by President-elect Joko Widodo or Jokowi and his running mate, Vice President-elect Jusuf Kalla on the occasion of the current Lebaran festival.          Besides Jokowi and Kalla, other parties have also expressed keenness to build and maintain national peace and unity.          According to Jokowi, Idul Fitri, the celebration that marks the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, is the best time to unify the nation. His running mate, Jusuf Kalla, also echoed his views.

PUBLIC URGED TO AVOID CONDUCTING 'TAKBIRAN' NIGHT PARADES

By Andi Abdussalam
Jakarta, July 27 (Antara) - After fasting for one month, the Indonesian Muslims will celebrate the post-fasting Idul Fitri festivity, marked with 'takbiran' (recital of God greatness) on Saturday night and Idul Fitri prayers on Monday morning.          The words of 'Allahu Akbar' (God is great) are echoed by Muslim congregations at mosques and at other places of warships such as 'Musholla' (small mosques).          In many parts of the country, 'Malam Takbiran' (the night when God greatness is repeatedly recited, that is the night before the Idul Fitri is said the next morning) is usually celebrated in convoys with mobile congregations on different vehicles.          To maintain security and order, the National Police therefore called on the public to avoid convoys on highways when they celebrate the 'malam tabiran' event on Saturday night.

LEBARAN TRAVELERS EXPECTED TO PEAK ON SATURDAY

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 26 (Antara) - Post-fasting Idul Fitri, or Lebaran holiday travelers have begun their home-bound journeys since early this week, but numbers are expected to peak on Saturday as employees and civil servants began their leave on Friday.          The peak in the Idul Fitri exodus is expected on Saturday, two days before the D-Day of Lebaran holidays which fall next Monday and Tuesday.          The government has imposed joint leave from Wednesday until Friday next week, giving a chance to employees, particularly civil servants, to enjoy a full week off next week.          There have been several estimates on the number of Lebaran travelers this year, but the ministry of transportation predicted 24 million revelers.

GOVT READY TO SERVE MILLIONS OF 'LEBARAN' TRAVELERS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 12 (Antara) - The government is prepared to provide services for some 24 million people seeking to return to their home towns (mudik) to celebrate 'Lebaran', or the Islamic post-fasting holidays, at the end of this month.          Further, the Ministry of Transportation will provide at least 1,200 ships and increase the frequencies of trains, along with offering additional flights, to serve the post-fasting Idul Fitri holiday revelers.          "In general, all transport operators are ready to provide services to people keen on returning to their native villages for Lebaran, this year," Director General of Land Transportation at the Ministry of Transportation, Suroyo Alimoeso, said.          It is predicted that during this year's Idul Fitri holidays, the number of home-bound travelers, excluding those traveling in their own vehicles, will increase by about 3.83 percent to 19.30 million from 2013, which saw 18.59 million travelers.          The 19.30 million travelers excluded those using their own private vehicles, predicted to reach 4.16 million.

JAKARTA RESIDENTS FLOCK TO TOURIST SPOTS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 9 (Antara) - Hundreds of thousands of Idul Fitri holidaymakers thronged tourist spots in Jakarta on Friday, the second day of the post-Ramadan, or Lebaran, festivities.          After fasting for a month, Muslims celebrate the Idul Fitri, or Lebaran, holiday by engaging in recreational activities in open places, such as zoos, beaches, and other tourist spots.        Among the places that Jakarta residents love to visit during this period are Ragunan zoo, Indonesia in Minature Park (TNII), Ancol Dreamland beach, and the National Monument Square (Monas).          By 1 pm on Friday, the Ragunan Zoo in South Jakarta had recorded the entry of 51,000 holidaymakers into its premises. This figure, of course, would continue to rise because, as of 1 pm, visitors were seen thronging the ticket counters and standing in snake-like queues.          It is expected that the number of visitors to the zoo on Friday would be similar to that of the second day of Lebaran holidays last year, which had exceeded 100,000.          "The number of visitors today is high but we predict it will peak on Saturday (August 10) or on Sunday. Most of the visitors came to the zoo by motorcycles," Ragunan Zoo spokesman Wahyudi Bambang said.

SECURITY FORCES GEAR UP FOR ID-UL-FITR EXODUS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 10 (ANTARA) - The National Police and others are currently in the thick of making security arrangements aimed at providing a safe passage for holiday travelers heading home to celebrate Id-ul Fitr.          The annual Id-ul Fitr exodus, also known as the "Mudik Lebaran," tradition is part of the celebrations performed by Muslims following a month-long fasting period. The mass departure of holiday travelers is expected to start next week, in anticipation of the Id-ul Fitri festivities, which will be held on August 19 and 20th.          The number of Id-ul-Fitr travelers throughout Indonesia is expected to remain the same as in 2011, when around 15 million revelers journeyed home via air, land and sea routes. They used buses, trains, ships, planes and motorbikes to make the journey, although driving motorcycles during the holiday rush is considered risky.         The police have launched a nationwide "Operation Ketupat 2012," aimed at securing festival travelers. The term "Ketupat" has been borrowed from the name of a rice cake, which is usually served with curry during the Lebaran festivities.          "We are preparing to ensure a calm Lebaran festival. We started carrying out drills under Ketupat at the beginning of the fasting month, which will continue till the last day of the Lebaran festival," National Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said.          With less than two weeks left before the last day of the Id-ul-Fitr celebrations, Pradopo led an Operation Ketupat roll call at the National Monument (Monas) square to inspect the preparations for safeguarding next week's mass departure.          "We are regularly evaluating the effectiveness of Operation Ketupat, as the number of travelers during "Mudik Lebaran" will continue to increase every year. It is estimated to go up by 10 percent to 15 percent this year," Pradopo said.          He added that because of an increase in the number of persons using motorcycles during the festival, about 70 percent of traffic accidents were related to motorcyclists. However, the police are taking preventive measures to ensure their safety.         According to 2011 data from the National Police Traffic Management Center, a total of 2,770 accidents took place during Id-ul-Fitr holiday rush, in which 449 people died, 760 got injured, and 1,914 others sustained minor injuries.          However, this was lower than the 3,418 accidents involving motorcycles, which took place during the same period in 2010.          The number of Id-ul Fitr travelers in 2011 is estimated at 15.5 million, which was an increase of 4.17 percent from the 14.9 million travelers in 2010.          Those traveling from Jakarta alone have been pegged at 7.129 million, up 12.98 percent from last year.          Chief of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI), General Agus Suhartono said his personnel were also readying a large ship to ferry Mudik revelers, including those using motorcycles.          "We need to pay more attention to ferry services because the number of users for this service is very big," Suhartono said.          Even though police has been carrying drills to ensure calm during the fasting month, full-scale security operations throughout Indonesia are expected to commence a week before Id-ul-Fitr day on August 11 and last till August 26.          A joint force of over 88,000 police and military personnel will be deployed at crucial points to prevent the occurrence of traffic jams, crimes or accidents.          National Police spokesman Brigadier General Boy Rafli Amar said a total of 88,230 police personnel will be involved in Operation Ketupat 2012.          The first priority will be given security in ten regional areas, including the provinces of Lampung, south Sumatra, west Java, central Java, Yogjakarta, east Java, Bali and south Sulawesi, Amar said.          "Operation Ketupat will use preventive measures to make the travelers feel secure, during both their home bound travel and their return after the Lebaran festivities," he added.           "The police have set up more than 3,000 security posts along several roads, shopping centers and places of worship, with the objective of making people feel secure."     In addition to the arrangements made by the police and other security agencies for festival travelers, the Ministry of Health also plans to set up 1,468 healthcare posts, which will be staffed with at least 65,000 paramedics.          Health Minister Nafsiah Mboi said in a statement on Thursday that her ministry was setting up these posts to protect travelers from sickness, incapacitation, death and other accident-related injuries during their journey.          "Besides the risk of meeting with an accident, travelers' health might also be put at risk by food poisoning, diarrhea, acute respiratory infection and communicable diseases," she said.          Mboi added that all healthcare centers will be located along routes used by Id-ul-Fitr travelers and will remain open for 24 hours.          The ministry has also distributed 200 packets of medicines among the posts, which are situated along national highways, as well as near the departure and arrival gates of sea ports.          It has also set up an information service center, through the Rapid Response and Health Post (PTRC), which will have direct access to the Police¿s National Traffic Management Center (NTMC) CCTV monitor.          The National Mandate Party (PAN) also plans to set up 50 command posts throughout Indonesia to man sections of roads that are prone to traffic jams.          "PAN will also offer free passage on 200 air conditioned buses to Idul Fitri travelers. The buses are expected to transport around 5,000 travelers to their respective home towns," Ahmad Hafizs Tohir, the chairman of PAN membership development said.          The setting up of command posts for traffic regulation and the deployment of buses will be organized by the Enforcers of People's Reform Mandate (PARRA), a division of PAN.          Tohir said thousands of home-bound travelers can expect to be transported to Java and Sumatra on August 15. "Our service will be better this year compared with last year," he said.          He added that PAN has also ramped up the number of buses plying on additional routes this year, to help travelers make a safe journey to their home towns.          PAN helped 5,000 Lebaran travelers en route to Java and Sumatra in 2011.          Tohir added that PAN wants to ensure that it adds to the happiness of holiday travelers, especially the needy ones, who want to observe the seasonal festivities with their families in their home towns.***1*** (T.A014/INE/a014) 10-08-2012 19:56

IDUL FITRI CELEBRATED ON DIFFERENT DAYS

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Aug 29 (ANTARA) - Indonesian Muslims celebrate Idul Fitri on different days with the second largest Muslim organization Muhammadiayah observing the end of Ramadhan on Tuesday (Aug. 30) while the largest one, the Nahdhatul Ulama (NU) on Wednesday.          The Idul Fitri festivities are to be preceded with prayers held on the first day of Syawal, succeeding month of the Ramadhan fasting month. However different methods used by the two largest Islamic organizations in deciding the first day of Syawal caused them to celebrate the Idul Fitri on different days.          In the meantime, the government announced on Monday evening that the Ramadhan fasting month ended on August 30, thus the first day of Syawal would fall on Wednesday, August 31, 2011.          The government's decision was announced by Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali during an Itsbat session held to determine the beginning of Syawal after hearing reports on the observations of the moon in different parts of the country and inputs from a number of Islamic mass organizations.          Of the 90 observation points in Indonesia, about 30 have reported that they had not seen the new moon which would mark the first day of Syawal.          Even though the new moon was not sighted during the observation, Muhammadiyah which based its method on calculation continued its decision to end fasting month on Monday and to hold Idul Fitri prayers on Tuesday.          In Jakarta, Muhammadiyah has set at least 69 locations to say the Idul Fitri prayers. While  in Bekasi, a buffer town of Jakarta in West Java, there would be 13 locations for Idul Fitri prayers, according to Muhammadiyah's official website on Monday.          Of the 69 locations, 13 are located in Central Jakarta, fourteen locations in East Jakarta, 15 places in West Jakarta, In North Jakarta 13 locations and in South Jakarta 14 locations.          In the meantime, the central executive board of Nahdhatul Ulama decided that the first day of Syawal fell on Wednesday,  August 31, 2011 because its observation teams fail to see the new moon.         "Based on reports from 90 locations none of NU's observers saw the new moon," its general chairman, KH Said Aqil Siroj, said.          He said that because none of NU's observation teams sighted the new moon, its central board decided that Ramadhan fasting month must be completed into 30 days (istikmal). The first month of Ramadhan this year fell on August 1, 2011, so that it would be ended on August 30.          Said Siroj asked NU executives to inform NU followers that they should say Idul Fitri prayers and celebrate it on Wednesday.          "This decision is for all NU followers in all parts of Indonesia," Said Aqil said.           Chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) Ma'ruf Amin has earlier predicted that Idul Fitri, Syawal 1, 1432 Hegira, was most likely to fall on August 31, 2011.  "There are two ways to determine  the first day of the Hegira calendar," he said.          Ma'ruf said  the first way was to see it through the lunar conjunction (Ijtima) that takes place before sunset, and then the moon set after  sunset. So, in this case, the moment was to be the beginning of the Hegira month, without the need to see how high the angle of the moon was when the sun sets. Muhammadiyah which claims more than 25 million followers adopted this.          The second way, Ma'ruf said, was through the sighting of the moon (rukyatul hilal), namely by directly observing the moon to determine the first day of a Hegira month. NU which is followed by some 30 million adopted this method.          According to Director General of Islamic Mass Guidance Prof. Dr Nasaruddin Umar, it is difficult to unite the decision of the Islamic mass organizations which had different methods in deciding the first day of the Syawal month.          Muhammadiyah has its 'wujudul hilal (position of the moon) criteria. Others have the 'Rukyatul Hilal' ( based on the sighting of the crescent/moon) method. "In the past Muhammadiyah decided that the moon is already at a hilal (seen) position when the moon based on the calculation is already at six degrees. But later it considered the six degrees position was too high, thus it lowered it to four degrees. Several years later, it lowered it again to two degrees and even now it is less than two degrees," Nasaruddin said.          "Yet, he added, astronomy experts and astrologers said it was impossible for the moon to be seen (hilal) at the position of four degrees, let alone if it is less than two degrees. The hadists (Prophet sayings) oblige that the moon must be sighted or else the days of the fasting month must be completed into 30 days," he added.          Up to now, he said, Arab countries still used the six degrees position while the Southeast Asian nations followed Indonesia's criteria.          Besides Muhammadiyah and NU which had different days in observing the Idul Fitri festivities, there are also other small Muslim nominations who observe the festivities on different days.          Around 200 followers of the Naqshabandiyah order in Pauh Padang sub-district in West Sumatra even have celebrated Idul Fitri on Monday. They held Idul Fitri prayers at Baitul Makmur mosque, 15 kilometers away from provincial capital Padang.          "Today all followers of Naqshabandiyah in West Sumatra totaling around 8,000 people are celebrating Idul Fitri," Syafri Malin Mudo, the chief of Naqshbandiyah followers of Baitul Makmur, said.          Yet, in Banyumas, Central Java, a small group of Muslims  will  celebrate the end of fasting month on Thursday, September 1.  "Based on our calendar that we have followed since hundreds of years ago,  the Lebaran (Idul Fitri) for followers of Islam Aboge will fall this year on Thursday, September 1," Sudiworo (60), one of the group's elders in Kracak village, said  on Monday.          With regard to the differences in observing the Idul Fitri festivities,  the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI) called on Muslims to have respect, tolerance and sincerity in facing  differences on the beginning of  Idul Fitri this year.          "Muslims have been accustomed to differences and thus in facing the differences (about the beginning of Idul Fitri), we have to pay mutual respect, tolerance and sincerity," MUI Chairman KH Ma'ruf Amin.***1*** (T.A014/A/H-NG/23:50/H-YH) 29-08-2011 23:58:

LEBARAN EXODUS BEGINS THIS WEEKEND

By Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, Sept 4 (ANTARA) - The exodus of post-fasting Idul Fitri or Lebaran holiday travelers is expected to start this weekend as millions of Lebaran  revelers are to return to their hometowns for annual family reunions  during the holidays.          The start of the exodus could be observed with the increased activities at two ferry ports of Merak in the western tip of Java and of Gilimanuk in Bali.        On Saturday, about 300 private cars have begun to snake down in queue at ferry port of Merak in the run-nup to the holidays which begin next week.  Most of the private cars which packed the port until its parking lots came from Jakarta.          "I have been waiting for two hours. Seeing the length of the queue, possibly I will get my turn to embark on the next three ferry," Rusti, who drove a private car, said.          During the annual season of Lebaran holidays, millions of travelers cross the Sunda Strait through the Merak port in Java and the Bakauheni port in Sumatra.          Another passenger Achmad who was in queue with his family in a private car said they were not tired even if they were forced to stay in queue. "My wife and kids so far have no complaints but seemed to enjoy themselves when they looked at the beautiful night sea," he said.          He admitted however that in spite of the fact that they enjoyed the trip, they also had worries. "We are worried to hear news from colleagues that ferries being operated by the Merak port are over 30 years old," he said.          Based on data,  most of the 33 roll-on roll-off ferries to be operated for home ward Indul Fitri travelers are old ships with only a number of them are less than 15 years.          The data received from  PT ASDP Indonesia  Ferry showed that of the 33 ships under the firm at Merak port most were already old, or over 25 years, some others even almost reaching 40 years old.          The 33 old ferries which will serve millions of home-bound Lebaran travelers and vehicles from Java to Sumatra or the vise verse, included the Jatra I and Jatra II produced in 1980.          The others are Jatra III,1985, BSP I,1973, BSP II,1971, BSP III,1973, Bahuga Pratama, 1992, Bahuga Jaya,1987, Menggala, 1973, Mufidah,1979, Duta Banten, 1973, Jagantara, 1979, Nusa Dharma, 1986, Nusa Bahagia,1979, Victorius, 1990, Laut Teduh I, 1990, Musthika Kencana,1975, HM Baruna,1992, Tribuana, 1997 and Rajabasa I, 1990.          Besides that other old ferries are SMS Kartanegara,1984, Windu Karsa Dwita,1997, Windu Karsa Pratama,1993, Titian Nusantara,1995, Panorama Nusantara,1987, Royal Nusantara,1985, Prima Nusantara,1975, Mitra Nusantara,1997, Titian Murni,1985, Nusa Agung,1992, Nusa Jaya,1987, Nusa Mulia, 1992 and Nusa Setia, 1994.          Besides the increase in the number of private cars, the number of passengers traveling on public buses has also increased on Saturday.          Passengers have flocked to the ports since early in the morning on Saturday. The have to  stand in a long queue waiting for their turns in front of the ticket counters.          "I decide to depart earlier, not on the eve of the post-fasting Lebaran holidays. Thanks God, although I have to queue, I can get a ticket smoothly," Ridwan, a traveler from Bogor who was on his way to South Sumatra said.          Ridwan said after he was granted a leave from his office beginning last Friday, he prepared his departure with his wife and children. "Our trip from Bogor is also smooth," he said.          Ruminah (45), a resident from Bandung, West Java, said that he deliberately spent the night in the port and would embark on the ferry that would take him to Bakauheni port in Sumatra at 6 am.          He said he was traveling to Bengkulu province, and would not get a bus that would take him to Bengkulu if he had not delayed his departure until morning.          Head of the inland waterway company TP ASDP for Merak, Teja Suparna said that the flock of passengers on Saturday morning at the port was only the beginning of the Lebaran exodus this year.          "The number of passengers early on Saturday has increased significantly compared with that in the previous days," he said.          Increased flow of travelers on Saturday was also seen at Bali?s Gilimanuk ferry port which connect the tourist resort island with Java.           PT ASDP for Gilimanuk has put  24 of its 28 ferries into service to transport post-fasting month travelers whose number began to rise. The number of vehicles, particularly two-wheel vehicles, making the crossing to East Java's Ketapang port  was expected to reach over 5,000 on Saturday.          "Since yesterday, port activities have been increasing with the number of motorcycles ferried to Ketapang port recorded at 5,000 units," operations manager of inland waterway firm PT ASDP for Gilimanuk, Ospar Silaban, said .          He said the number of motorcycles using ferry services on Friday reached 5,000 units and on Saturday it was expected to exceed 5,000 units.  In an effort to anticipate a drastic increase, PT ASDP was operating 24 ferries of the 28 ships that had been made available.          He said that although there was an increase in the number of vehicles, yet it did not create a long queue. "There is no queue at present," he said.The increase also happened with private cars. Based on the experience in previous years Gilimanuk port would see the peak of activities on two to one days before the Idul Fitri D-Day on Friday.          Ospar called on travelers to conduct their Idul Fitri trips before the peak days in an effort to avoid traffic jams and long queues.          Millions of seasonal passengers travel to their home towns to have family reunions during the annual post-fasting Lebaran holidays.          During the Idul Fitri holiday season last year,  the number of home-bound travelers reached  about  27.25 million, of which 16.2 million used various public transportation modes while the remaining 11.2 million used private cars and motorcycles.***4*** (T.A014/A/HAJM/15:23/A/O001) 04-09-2010 15:35

RI BRACING FOR EXODUS OF IDUL FITRI TRAVELERS

By Andi Abdussalam

     Jakarta, Sept 13 (ANTARA) - Virtually all big cities in Indonesia are currently bracing themselves for an exodus of an estimated  15.8 million people who are to spend the annual Idul Fitri post-fasting month holidays in their home towns or villages later this month.
     In the runup to the D-Day of the Idul Fitri season which  according to the official calendar this year falls on October 1, the government is preparing and repairing various modes of transportation to serve  the home-going people.
     In Indonesia, where most of its  228 million population are Muslims, the end of the Ramadhan fasting month , locally called 'Lebaran', is an important event where most urban workers and their families would return to their home towns or villages to have  reunions with relatives and old friends.
     This year the number of home-bound travelers is expected to increase by 6.14.
     Transportation Minister Jusman Syafii Djamal said the number of this year's Idul Fitri home-going travelers would reach 15.8 million, or an increase of 6.14 percent compared with last year's.
  "Of the number, 9.9 million will travel using land transportation, 1 million by sea and 1.9 million by air," the minister told the press last week.
   In order to facilitate transportation means for travelers, the government has prepared transportation seats which reached 35.67 million. This seems to have exceeded the estimated demands for seats at only 15.8 million. "So, the availability of seats will be guaranteed," the minister said.
    Besides transportation facilities, the government is also determined to provide security for people during the Lebaran exodus.
    Security apparatuses, police officers and military personnel are  all ready to safeguard transportation during the Lebaran festivities.
    "Security preparations in 8 main provinces are also being made," Minister Jusman Syafii added.
     Head of Police Headquarters for Operational Affairs, Brig Gen Edhi Susilo said police in the efforts to secure the Lebaran festivities would launch an operation code-named "Operasi Ketupat 2008" which would be reinforced with about 43,700 personnel.
     As the number of two-wheel vehicle travelers is expected to reach 2.5 million, police have made anticipatory preparations to escort them.
     Other preparations are being made by the government in the runup to the Lebaran festivities are facilities for land, air and sea (inland waterways) transportation services.
     At least 67 ferries will be operated to cater passengers who will leave Java island to Sumatra, Madura and Bali.
     PT Indonesia Ferry said it would operate 25 ferries of the ro-ro (roll-on-roll-off) type to serve Idul Fitri passengers who would cross the Sunda Strait from Java to Sumatra.
     "During the peak season, all of the ships will be operated," PT Indonesia Ferry President Director Bambang Soerjanto said last week.
     He said that the state-owned company was making preparations in all lines of the ferry service. "Our target is to provide services far better than the one we provided last year," he added.
     Like in Merak port, preparations are also made for passengers who will use ferry services from East Java to Bali through the Ketapang-Gilimanuk ports.
     A total of 24 ferry ships are now standby with good conditions, except two which are now still under repair in a dockyard in East Java. They will ply the Bali strait to serve passengers.
     "The repair of the ship will be finished 10 days before Lebaran," Didik Budiastono of the Seaworthiness Affairs of the Ketapang Port said on Thursday. He said the two ferries were actually on a routine docking in Surabaya, provincial capital of East Java.
     Other Idul Fitri travelers in Java who will celebrate the festivities in Madura island will also be served by at least 18 ferries. The 18 ships are prepared by the Inland Waterway Transportation Service (ASDP) of Ujung Kamal, Bangkalan (Madura).
     Soetarjo of the ASDP said of the 19 ships, 12 were regular ones and 6 others were non regular which were especially prepared for the Lebaran event.
     In the meantime, for passengers who intend to travel by air, the Transportation Ministry is making efforts to increase seat capacity by concluding increase frequency flight approvals (FA) with airlines.
     "We are preparing at least 35 FAs in the face of home-going Idul Fitri exodus," Air Transportation Director General Tri Sunoko said on Thursday.
      The effort would at least add flight seats of flag carrier Garuda Indonesia which were reported to have almost been fully booked. PT Garuda Indonesia said tickets for regular flight were now almost fully booked for this year's Idul Fitry holidays.
      According to Tri Sunoko, the 35 additional FAs are new flight routes created to serve passengers. They are proposed by Sriwijaya Air (14 routes), Mandala Air (4 routes), Batavia Air (6 routes), Garuda and Lion Air (11 routes).
      The government predicted that about 1.8 million of 15.8 Idul Fitri travelers will use air transportation service this year. This is an increase by 9 percent compared with that a year earlier at 1.7 million.
      Other transportation means which are mostly used by travelers is train. State-owned train company PT INKA is also making preparations.
      Especially for Lebaran transportation this year, the government through the Transportation Ministry has ordered at least 25 economy-class coaches  and  20 executive class  ones from PT INKA.
      "All coaches for executive-, business-, economy-class  and community trains have been completed by PT INKA and they are now ready for use," the company's president director, Roos Diatmoko, said.
      Overall, the number of coaches ordered for this year's Lebaran holidays reached 86. They have been constructed in a marathon way since June 2008 by about 800 workers.
      "So, we are ready to operate during the Lebaran festivities," Roos Diatmoko said.

(T.a014/A/HAJM/14:30/a/f001) 13-09-2008 14:38:49