Commemorating The 76th Anniversary Of The Republic Of Indonesia, Mount Dempo Climbers Must Have Vaccinations

JAKARTA - The Police of Pagaralam City, South Sumatra, has tightened inspections for climbers of Mount Api Dempo ahead of the 76th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia. Pagaralam Police Chief Adjunct Senior Commissioner of Police Arif Harsono in Pagaralam, Monday, said travelers are required to show a COVID-19 vaccination card to officers.

"This regulation is to suppress the spread of COVID-19," he said at the Dempo Volcano climbing post via the Afdeling VI public route, North Pagaralam District, quoted from ANTARA, Tuesday, August 17.

The commander of the Pagaralam Police Community Development Unit, Saharudin, added that his party also requires climbers to bring a health certificate and imposes restrictions on visiting hours from 08.00 WIB - 22.00 WIB in the village area.

According to him, officers together with community volunteers who are on standby at the climbing post will carry out a thorough inspection of every luggage, if they are caught carrying prohibited items such as liquor and narcotics they will be prosecuted.

"All climbers are required to report at the climbing post, the rule is valid until August 18, 2021," he said.

The head of the Dempo Volcano Registration Center (Brigade) Arindi said that his party together with the police would arrange a climbing scheme by limiting a maximum of 800 climbers for the two days.

However, if the quota of climbers is maximum but there are still climbers who come, they are forced to stand in line waiting for a climber to descend.

Because in the mirror from previous years the number of climbers who want to celebrate the moment of the Republic of Indonesia's Independence Day at the top of the mountain can reach thousands of people.

"This arrangement is for the convenience and safety of all," he said.

When getting off the hiking trail and returning to the post, hikers are also required to bring their logistical waste with them. If they are not obeyed, they will be asked to take the garbage back to the hiking trail.

So that way he expects cooperation from climbers so that they can obey the rules that are applied. "Please cooperate," he concluded.