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Hikers set up camp in Bogor despite COVID-19 restrictions
A viral photo on social media showed a large number of tents erected by hikers at Alas Bandawasa Hill in Cigombong in Bogor regency.
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The photo was reportedly taken on Sunday, despite the local administration's PSBB measures that are in place until at least June 4. (Shutterstock/Reuben Teo)
D
espite the still ongoing large-scale social restrictions (PSBB) imposed to curb the COVID-19 pandemic, some people have reportedly decided to stretch their legs and go camping in Bogor, West Java.
A viral photo on social media showed a large number of tents erected by hikers at Alas Bandawasa Hill in Cigombong in Bogor regency.
The photo was reportedly taken on Sunday, despite the local administration's PSBB measures that are in place until at least June 4.
Teguh Darmawangsyah, head of Cigombong Public Order Agency (Satpol PP), confirmed the photo’s validity. He said the agency's officers had immediately broken up the encampment, which consisted of around 100 hikers, following reports on the PSBB violators.
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“We have taken the [necessary] steps [to disperse the crowd]. [We] immediately went to the location,” he said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday.
The camping spot is now closed to the public until the PSBB no longer applies, he said.
According to Teguh, the land is state-owned idle land. A group of local youths manages the land as a camping ground as a means to provide them with a positive activity during their free time. Prior to managing the land, the youths in the area had engaged in frequent brawling.
“When the local youths engage in activities there, the number of brawls decreases,” Teguh said.
The camping ground management had actually announced the closure of the grounds on March 24 on its official Instagram account.
The PSBB violators entered the area because the entrance was not guarded, Teguh said.
“Now we have closed the entrance with a gate. SatPol PP alongside the military and police officers are guarding the entrance,” he added. (gis/kes)
