We have not conducted a gathering since 2020, especially the young people.
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Home Affairs, Tito Karnavian, reminded all local governments regarding the importance of maintaining security and price stability during 2022 Christmas and 2023 New Year.

"We must take an important step as an effort to keep Christmas and New Year safe, comfortable, peaceful, and under control, starting from security issues, then smooth traffic, food availability, price stability, and affordability of food prices due to the high demand," Karnavian stated here, Monday.

The minister noted that efforts to maintain security include organizing community activities, especially in places where New Year celebrations take place. This is an effort to minimize unwanted incidents, such as the stampede at the Halloween celebration in Itaewon, South Korea, which claimed several victims.

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To this end, the minister urged relevant stakeholders to identify and make an inventory of vulnerable areas in order to control the crowd.

"We have not conducted a gathering since 2020, especially the young people. In Ancol, Jakarta, for example, there will be hundreds of thousands of people celebrating New Year's Eve, and the same thing will also happen in other regions. This condition must be identified and followed with mitigation measures and regulations, including the running mechanism," Karnavian stated.

He also appealed to local governments to ban the use of firecrackers that can cause large explosions, fires, and victims.

"We think firecrackers are better banned. Fireworks are allowed but limited. We must avoid any fire-triggering stuff," he emphasized.

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Karnavian stated that these efforts require proactive steps and coordination from various parties. He also reminded that the main key is holding a meeting with the Regional Leadership Coordination Forum (Forkopimda).

With the cohesiveness of Forkopimda and religious leaders, Christmas and New Year activities can run safely, he stated.

"We have conveyed to the association of governors, the mayors' association, and the district heads' association regarding the Circular Letter number 400 10/8922/SJ to be conveyed to all regional leaders," he remarked.


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Translator: Boyke Ledy W, Resinta S
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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