Indonesia: New Year celebrations continue as nation mourns AirAsia crash

JAKARTA, Indonesia — The celebration of New Year’s Eve will go ahead in the capital city despite recent tragedies, including the AirAsia flight QZ8501 accident and the deadly landslide in Banjarnegara in Central Java.

The Jakarta administration will continue with its plans to conduct the 2014 Jakarta Night Festival (JNF) along Jl. MH Thamrin and the National Monument (Monas) park in Central Jakarta. Although the celebration will not be canceled, Governor Basuki “Ahok” Tjahaja Purnama said the city would conduct prayers for the recent tragedies.

“We will not cancel the 2014 JNF. However, the event may not be as festive as last year as a result of the recent disasters. We will have a prayer session to pray for those who have passed away or are affected by the tragedies,” the former East Belitung regent said on Tuesday.

AirAsia flight QZ8501 en route to Singapore from Surabaya, with 162 people on board, was involved in a tragic accident resulting from bad weather. In addition to that tragedy, the Banjarnegara landslide claimed the lives of 95 people with 13 people still missing.

During a ceremony with hundreds of teachers and civil servants on Tuesday, Ahok and the participants had a moment of silence to pray for the victims and families of the tragedies.

Last year, the JNF street festival attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors who crammed 12 stages set up along Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin to watch an abundance of musical performances.

The crowd was lured by, among other highlights, a duet between then Jakarta Governor Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and dangdut king Rhoma Irama who sang ”Darah Muda” (Young Blood) together.

Jakarta Culture and Tourism Agency head Arie Budhiman said the 2014 JNF would only feature nine stages. “We will keep the recent tragedies in mind. We will make sure to make time for a session to pray for the victims and families of the tragedies,” Arie said in a text message.

The JNF, he said, would boast more than 100 performers who would entertain visitors before the New Year’s countdown. Both Ahok and Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful Hidayat are scheduled to attend and perform in the festival. Arie continued by saying that the city set aside Rp 1 billion (US$80,502) for the event.

Various New Year’s Eve parties in the capital city will also be conducted such as in Taman Impian Jaya Ancol theme park in North Jakarta, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) cultural park in East Jakarta, Kota Tua in West Jakarta and Thousand Islands regency, with various events and fireworks shows.

A number of public figures, including Vice President Jusuf Kalla, cancelled their New Year’s Eve events and holidays.

Other cities have opted to cancel or tone down their planned New Year’s Eve celebrations, such as in East Belitung regency in Bangka Belitung Province, out of respect for victims of the tragedies. Indonesia also mourned before New Year’s Eve in 2004 after the Aceh tsunami on Dec. 26, 2004.