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People crowd Jl. Thamrin, Monas to welcome in New Year
Many people continued to crowd two main thoroughfares – Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman – as well as the National Monument (Monas) park despite the fact that the Jakarta administration abruptly cancelled its plan to set up stages for bands and other entertainment there.
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People visit Monas to welcome in the New Year. (kompas.com/Robertus Belarminus)
M
any people continued to crowd two main thoroughfares – Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman – as well as the National Monument (Monas) park despite the fact that the Jakarta administration abruptly cancelled its plan to set up stages for bands and other entertainment there.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle since Saturday evening to welcome in the New Year.
Many people sat near the water pond of the roundabout, chatting to each other or taking selfies, although the New Year was still officially hours away.
Initially, the administration wanted to make the area free of motorized vehicles, except for Transjakarta buses, by making the event an official Car Free Night. However, the cancellation of the plan was announced earlier on Saturday.
The Jakarta administration argued that the crowds might disrupt work on the MRT.
A similar situation was also seen at Monas, a few kilometers away, where people started to gather at around 7 p.m.
Through loudspeakers, officers on duty tried to send the people sitting in the park away. However, an increasing number of people chose to ignore the warnings of the officers. Some even put out mattresses on the grass.
The administration announced that the New Year’s Eve celebrations would be centered in these five municipalities: Ancol for North Jakarta, Arsisi Square for Central Jakarta, Indonesia in Miniature Park (TMII) for East Jakarta, Setu Babagan for South Jakarta and Old Town for West Jakarta. (bbn)
