POLICE READY FOR SECURING IDUL FITRI EXODUS

by Andi Abdussalam

Jakarta, July 27 Antara) - Indonesian security forces are gearing up to face the annual Idul Fitri exodus of about 15 million revelers going home (mudik) for family reunions during next  month's  post-fasting festivities (Lebaran).          President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has emphasized the importance of public security, smooth transportation and good traffic arrangement to ensure smooth flow of travelers seven days before and after the D-Day of Lebaran which is expected to fall on August 8-9, 2013.          Like in 2011 and 2012, around 15 million revelers across the country journeyed home via air, land and sea routes. They used buses, trains, ships, planes and motorbikes to make the journey.          Police Chief General Timur Pradopo said about two-thirds of the police forces would be deployed to secure the flow of Lebaran travelers this year.          "We will field two-thirds of our forces to safeguard Idul Fitri holidaymakers," General Pradopo said after a limited cabinet meeting on Wednesday.          Police personnel will stand guards on the routes of travelers from big cities to various regions. They will start the pacification from Jakarta and big cities to various regions. "We will give priorities to revelers who are going home to towns in Sumatra or Java," the police chief said.          Pradopo said earlier that he would field more than 88,000 personnel in the operation to assure security of holidaymakers during their travels home for the Islamic post-fasting holiday of Idul Fitri.            "We hope the "Operation Ketupat 2013" would run well and successfully," he said at a previous meeting which was also attended by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono.          In conducting the security operations, police will cooperate with the Indonesian military and the public in general. President Yudhoyono said police and military officers who accounted for about 100,000 personnel must work hard and effectively day and night.          In carrying out their tasks, the police will be assisted by the military and the  public.          "In the provincial or regional level, the police launch operations assisted by the regional governments, the military and the public in an effort to smooth the flow of travelers and to prevent crimes, terror acts and accidents," the police chief said.          He also called on motorcyclists to use trains and ships which offer their services for free. "For motorbike riders, the government has provided train and ships free of charge. The ships will be made available by the Navy and the state-owned shipping lines PT Pelni. They should utilize this for the Jakarta-Kendal-Semarang routes, for example," Pradopo said.          Operation Ketupat 2013 will be launched by the police beginning on the seventh day before the Idul Fitri D-day. The term "Ketupat" has been borrowed from the name of a rice cake, which is usually served with curry during the Lebaran festivities.          The government, through the ministry of transportation, also launches a transportation program using trains, trucks and ships for motorcyclists and passengers. Motorcyclists using train will have to pay tickets for themselves only while their motorbikes will be free of charge.         Those using trucks and ships will not be charged both for themselves and for their motorcycles. Trucks will transport motorbikes while their owners will be provided with buses.   About 40,000 Idul Ftri travelers are expected to join this program.          In the meantime, PT Pelni is preparing 25 ships to cater Idul Fitri passengers who are expected to reach over 800,000 people. "We will mobilize all Pelni's ships to serve Idul Fitri passengers this year.  We hope there will be no ships at the dock-yard during the Lebaran season, namely 15 days before and 15 days after the Idul Fitri D-Day," PT Pelni President Director Sjahril Japarin said.        He said that Pelni will prepare 12 units of ships with a capacity of 2,000 and 3,000 passengers respectively. Nine ships have a capacity of 1,000 passengers, three units with 500 passenger capacity ships and one ferry (roll-on-roll-off).         The Pelni president director also assured that there would be no ticket price increase during Lebaran 2013. "Economy and non economy classes will have no ticket price increase. They will have regular tariff prices," said Sjahril.          Sjahril predicted an increase in Pelni passengers in this year Lebaran festivities by about three percent compared with that in 2012. "This year, it can reach 839.854 passengers, which will increase from 815,392 passengers in 2012 and 718,374 in 2011.         Meanwhile state-owned Inland Waterway Transportation Service (PT ASDP Indonesia Ferry) said ports under its management were all ready to  serve Idul Fitri travelers.          "All piers  at ports are ready to operate in full capacity," ASDP President Director Danang S Baskoro said.          ASDP will provide the best  service this year in line with its comprehensive programs which include ship reliability, better port infrastructure, better services and increased coordination with other parties at ports.          ASDP will operate new ships to transport passengers. "Based on the operation pattern, we will operate 28 reliable ships," he said adding that their reliability was seen in their conditions in the last one month after passing a docking process.         Through the ministry of social affairs, the government will also field a fast reaction team to provide protection for Lebaran holidaymakers. "We will field a fast reaction team with a special task to provide services and protection for children and the elderly," Social Affairs Minister  Salim Segaf Al Jufri said meanwhile.          The minister said that he welcome the annual event, asking all sides to pay attention to the safety, security and convenience aspects during the exodus.  "The biggest number of travelers takes place in Java where holidaymakers also make journeys to other regions. So, the important thing that needs attention is giving treatment to  children and elderly travelers," the social affairs minister said.          Protection services should begin from the departure points of travelers and be continued at command posts along the routes of the trips. "We will provide assistance for main agencies responsible for the mudik season," he said.          The Health Ministry has also begun preparing hospitals and public health care centers (Puskesmas) which are located along the main routes of  Idul Fitri holidaymakers, particularly in Java's northern coastal lanes.         "Our first step is preparing Puskesmas and hospitals along the main routes of travelers. We prepare medical personnel and logistics," Deputy Minister  for health affairs Ali Ghufron Mukti said.        In the meantime, the Indonesian Medical Association (IDI) will also set up command posts in a number of points from the Merak port to the Java northern coastal lanes to provide services to travelers.          "We have been setting up every year command posts to provide health services for Idul Fitri travelers," dr. Zainal Abidin, the general chairman of the IDI said on Friday.         Zainal said that each command post will be attended by one doctor, nurse and volunteers who are ready to provide medical services for Idul Fitri holidaymakers traveling on two or four wheel vehicles.         "The command posts will welcome travelers not only those who need medical treatment but also those who want  to take a rest," the IDI chairman said.***4*** (T.A014/H-YH)