Sultan Hamengku Buwono X Forbids Citizens To Gather To Celebrate The New Year

YOGYAKARTA - The Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, forbade his citizens to celebrate the 2022 New Year by congregating both openly and behind closed doors.

The prohibition is stated in the Governor's Instruction Number 37/INSTR/2021 concerning Prevention and Control of Corona Virus Disease 2019 at Christmas 2021 and New Year 2022 in Yogyakarta which was signed by Sultan HB X in Yogyakarta, Tuesday, December 14.

"Prohibiting New Year's parades and processions as well as banning Old and New Year events, both open and closed, which have the potential to cause crowds", said Sultan HB X, quoted by Antara.

He hopes that its citizens will simply celebrate the 2022 New Year with their families, avoid crowds and travel, and carry out activities in their respective neighborhoods that do not have the potential to cause crowds.

In the Governor's Instruction (Ingub), the Governor of Yogyakarta also asked for Christmas and New Year celebrations held at shopping centers and malls to also be abolished. "Except for the SME exhibition", said Sultan.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Yogyakarta Civil Service Police (Satpol PP), Noviar Rahmad, said he would deploy all 598 personnel to disperse crowds in all public places including tourist destinations during the New Year's momentum.

"We will mobilize all of them to oversee New Year's celebrations, both at tourist attractions and then in crowded places", he said.

In addition, according to Noviar, to minimize the potential for COVID-19 transmission, joint officers consisting of the Yogyakarta Regional Police and the Yogyakarta Transportation Agency will also carry out inspections of migrants on the regional border route, namely in Temon, Kulon Progo; and Prambanan, and Tempel, Sleman.

"Later, what will be examined will include travel documents, antigen test letters, and vaccine cards", he said.