T

he city administration and Jakarta Police are continuing their campaign for a peaceful Idul Fitri eve, by asking citizens not to participate in road convoys known as takbiran.

Effendi Anas, head of the Jakarta Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), said on Friday that the agency would deploy personnel to support the police in deterring takbiran.

“In our opinion, such convoys are useless and could even do harm,” Effendi told reporters at an event at the National Monument (Monas) Park in Central Jakarta.

The agency plans to deploy a total of 2,800 personnel across the city.

A total of 500 personnel will be stationed in each of the five municipalities. “Some 300 others will be deployed near vital areas,” Effendi said.

The agency chief advised people to stay within their neighborhoods. “Parading around in your own neighborhood is fine, but we will prevent anyone going into the main streets,” he said.

Takbiran held around the city, especially those involving motorcycles, have led to traffic congestion and accidents in past years.

The Jakarta Police said those planning takbiran on main streets should report to the police.

“It’s better if they stay on their own neighborhood, but we will safeguard those taking to the streets,” Jakarta Police chief Insp. Gen. Untung S. Rajab said.

The aim of safeguarding takbiran is the prevention of friction between rival groups.

The police will cooperate with the city administration to prevent takbiran from the suburbs and outside the capital from entering the city and the downtown area.

Police officers will be stationed at the city limits to stop revelers heading into Jakarta and direct them back to where they come from.

Jakarta Police will deploy a total of 8,645 officers across the capital.

Separately, the city’s sanitation agency said it has also prepared sanitation posts in five municipalities to anticipate a surge in waste production on Idul Fitri Eve and after the Idul Fitri mass prayer.

Agency head Eko Baruna said that he expected a 10 percent increase in the amount of waste produced, compared to daily amount, when Muslim citizens observe the largest religious event in the country.

“We are preparing for a total of more than 3,100 tons of garbage produced that day,” Eko said.

The agency will dispatch a total of 7,875 garbage collectors and 1,121 garbage trucks during the holidays.

On Idul Fitri morning, garbage collectors will be deployed near 726 mass prayer locations.

The agency has recorded 43 prayer sites in Central Jakarta, 13 in North Jakarta, 135 in West Jakarta, 449 in South Jakarta and 86 in East Jakarta.

For a week after Idul Fitri, garbage collectors will be deployed at mosques, bus terminals, train stations and tourist sites.

“The amount of garbage will decrease to normal after a week,” Eko said.

Idul Fitri, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadhan, is expected to fall on Sunday and Monday.

The government will conduct an isbat (confirmation) on Saturday evening to decide the first day of Idul Fitri.

Muhammadiyah, one of the two largest Muslim organizations in Indonesia, has announced that the first day of Idul Fitri will fall on Saturday. The organization used the calendar-based calculation rather than the observation-based
method.

With the same method, Muhammadiyah decided that the beginning of Ramadhan fell on July 20, one day earlier than the government ultimately decided upon.