The Jakarta Post
Heavy rainfall that lasted all night on Tuesday did not stop revelers of Jakarta from rejoicing in the final moments of 2019 as they waved goodbye to a hectic political year while wishing for social harmony and a prosperous future. Hundreds of thousands of people swarmed Jl. MH Thamrin in Central Jakarta, where entertainment stages were erected, to celebrate New Year’s Eve. East Jakarta resident Mei Jerry, 38, who celebrated the end of the year with his wife and daughter at culinary center Thamrin 10, said he hoped to see intolerance shrink in 2020. “It seems like tolerance has eroded this year due to the [presidential] election with worsening sectarian tension. I hope we become a more tolerant nation because, even though I’m a Muslim, Islam is not the only religion here,” he said. “I believe we can make it happen.” Indonesia witnessed i...