Sultan HB X Asks For No Convoys During The 2024 New Year Celebration

Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta (DIY) Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X. BETWEEN/Luqman Hakim

YOGYAKARTA - Governor of the Special Region of Yogyakarta Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X asked the public not to carry out motorized vehicle convoys when celebrating New Year's Eve 2024.

"Hopefully, people who see performances and their vehicles do not move around the city to increase the density in the city," said Sultan HB X, quoted from the official website of the Yogyakarta Regional Government in Yogyakarta, Friday, December 22.

Sultan said that during the 2023 Christmas and 2024 New Year holidays, it is estimated that 4.45 million people will visit DIY, either just passing or stopping by or staying in Yogyakarta.

Meanwhile, the peak of the crowd in DIY is predicted to take place on the eve of the turn of the year 2023 to 2024.

"So we need to pay close attention to the flow of traffic that comes and later comes out again as a good form of service for all citizens," said the King of the Yogyakarta Palace.

Sultan appealed to all districts to be able to create crowd points for people on New Year's Eve so that it becomes a solution to unraveling the density of the community and vehicles in the city of Yogyakarta. "We hope that various events that will be held in these districts can be socialized," said Sultan.

Currently, there are plans for 15 fireworks display points spread across many tourist attractions in DIY.

This is one way for the DIY Regional Government to break the concentration in the city of Yogyakarta, with the time of the fireworks display which usually lasts around 22.00 to more than 24.00 WIB.

The Head of the Yogyakarta Regional Police, Inspector General Suwondo Nainggolan, said that there were two major activities that caught the attention of the Yogyakarta Regional Police at the 2023 Progo Candle Operation, namely securing worship activities and traveling activities in the DIY area.

The 2023 Progo Candle Operation lasts for 12 days, starting from 22 December 2023 to 2 January 2023.

"The first step we took was how to create security, safety and order in traffic. Therefore, we properly regulate traffic in Yogyakarta, including making traffic engineering, especially ahead of the turn of the year to unravel congestion," said Suwondo.

He said the next step was security operations by anticipating crimes or disturbances that could potentially occur in the community.

In addition, anticipation is an effort to mitigate disasters that have the potential to occur.

It has also been agreed that the dissemination of information from the DIY Regional Government as well as elements in districts/cities and the private sector will hold New Year's Eve celebration activities in various places.

"On this occasion, it is hoped that the public can enjoy the entertainment of New Year celebrations around their homes. If it is not very necessary, there is no need to enter the city area," said Suwondo Nainggolan.

Regarding traffic engineering on New Year's Eve, Suwondo said, his party imposed a motorized vehicle-free night along Jalan Malioboro to 0 KM from 18.00 WIB to 05.00 WIB.