Bogor pulls together for APEC conference<\/p>\n
By Johannes Simbolon<\/p>\n
BOGOR (JP): The long-lost beauty of Bogor has been regained as
\nthe meeting of APEC economic leaders is set to take place in just
\na matter of hours.<\/p>\n
\"The cleanliness of the town at present reminds me of the
\n1950s when I was just a little boy. Honestly speaking, the town
\nhasn't been this clean in a long time,\" said Tanu Sulianto, who
\nwas born and raised in Bogor and also hopes to die here.<\/p>\n
Bogor people started preparing for the historic event two
\nmonths ago and have been busy polishing the town up until
\nyesterday, seemingly in an effort to restore some of the city's
\nformer glory.<\/p>\n
In this town heavily populated with trees, it's almost
\nunbelievable that there were almost no leaves scattered on the
\nstreet or sidewalks.<\/p>\n
On Jl. Surya Kencana, the town's main business thoroughfare,
\nthe sidewalks were gleaming with new black and white tiles.<\/p>\n
\"All shop owners willingly restored the sidewalks with new
\ntiles in front of their shops from their own budgets,\" said Tanu.<\/p>\n
Bogor Mayor H.E. Gunardi, who last inspected the town
\nyesterday, spent most of the day proudly standing in front of the
\nBaranangsiang bus terminal watching over the dozens of people
\npreoccupied with the last cleaning activities.<\/p>\n
The APEC economic leaders and journalists will arrive through
\nthe gate this morning and will first set eyes on a giant yellow
\nbanner reading \"Welcome to the Garden City of Bogor\" and a long
\nline of colorful blossoms underneath.<\/p>\n
\"The mayoralty has not given a single rupiah for all these
\nthings. It was the public who bought the flowers, trimmings,
\neverything. They realize that this is an important event that
\nwill place their town on the world map.\"<\/p>\n
\"We got nothing from Jakarta for the preparation of the
\nevent,\" he boasted.<\/p>\n
The garden city of Bogor, as the residents now love to call
\nit, seemed to have done its utmost to make the one-day stay of
\nthe APEC economic leaders and the journalists here a memorable
\none.<\/p>\n
All of the 23 hotels here are fully booked until the end of
\nthe meeting. Schools and offices are closed today. Shops might
\nopen but all the owners have opted to rest at home, expecting
\nonly a few clients. The main streets which lead to the
\nPresidential Palace are off limits to cars and passers-by from 6
\na.m. to 6 p.m., while the Baranangsiang terminal will be closed
\nfrom midnight to the end of the meeting.<\/p>\n
A task force of over 717 officers will be deployed to control
\ntraffic, said the task force commander Lt. Col. Sutarna.<\/p>\n
Shaman<\/p>\n
Bogor has also felt anxious about mother nature and her plans
\nfor the town, where rain is the order of the day.<\/p>\n
The town is normally very proud of their weather, providing
\nthe town with the best of tropical nature. However, in the case
\nof the APEC economic leaders meeting, President Soeharto could
\npossibly cancel taking his guests for a stroll through the Bogor
\nPalace's backyard after lunch. In addition, journalists might be
\nhampered in their efforts to cover the event and take quality
\nphotos.<\/p>\n
After several months of drought, said to be the longest ever
\nin Bogor, it rained heavily early this month and also on Saturday
\nnight.<\/p>\n
\"Very heavily and with lots of thunder,\" recalled Herry
\nSupadmo, general manager of Pangrango Hotel.<\/p>\n
Mayor Gunardi said the first rain led to the downfall of 20
\ntrees, including some near the palace, while Saturday's lightning
\nburned one electricity control unit on the road side, causing a
\nblackout in some downtown areas.<\/p>\n
Bogor residents say such rains rarely happen and see some
\nsupernatural meanings in them.<\/p>\n
\"Strange heavy rains happen every time big events are held at
\nthe palace. It also happened during the Jakarta Informal Meeting
\non Cambodia, which was also held here, \" Herry said.<\/p>\n
Rumors circulating among the Bogor residents said that tens of
\nshamans from across West Java have been hired to ward off rains
\nduring the meeting though strongly denied by Mayor Gunardi.<\/p>\n
\"We never hire shamans. We believe in God. Together with
\nclerics, we have for months routinely held prayers at mosques for
\nthe success of the event, including good weather. If shamans are
\nreading mantras to ward off the rains, then it is just the public
\nparticipating in the success of the big event,\" said the mayor.<\/p>\n
Ki Ageng Selo, a well-known Jakarta-based psychic, dared to
\npredict that it would rain in Bogor after the meeting is
\nfinished.<\/p>\n
\"The rain is nature's very way of saying that the APEC meeting
\nin Bogor will be very successful,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/bogor-pulls-together-for-apec-conference-1447893297",
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