City celebrates 474th anniversary<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Sutiyoso kicked off on Friday the one-
\nmonth celebration of the city's 474th anniversary, which falls on
\nJune 22.<\/p>\n
He launched the celebration at a ceremony held in a Betawi
\n(Jakarta native) culture preservation area in Setu Babakan,
\nSrengseng Sawah, South Jakarta.<\/p>\n
\"I hope all the festivities will make Jakartans love the city
\nmore and boost togetherness and social discipline,\" the governor
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The city administration plans to make Setu Babakan a model for
\nthe preservation of Betawi culture.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the area would be developed as a tourist
\ndestination featuring Betawi architecture, language, dances and
\nplays.<\/p>\n
\"When the development of the Betawi area is completed, the
\narea will become an information center about Betawi culture,\" the
\ngovernor said without giving a date when the development was
\nexpected to be completed.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the Native Jakartans Association (Bamus
\nBetawi), Abdul Syukur, approved of the administration's decision
\nto develop the area.<\/p>\n
He is hopeful the plan will be realized, unlike a similar idea
\nfor the Condet area, since the city administration has issued a
\nregulation on the matter.<\/p>\n
Syukur said the effort to make Condet in East Jakarta a Betawi
\nculture preservation area failed because it was not backed by a
\ncity regulation.<\/p>\n
\"So many Betawi houses were demolished or sold by the owners
\n(to non-Betawi) but the administration could do nothing,\" Syukur
\nsaid on the sidelines of the ceremony.<\/p>\n
He said the city administration issued a regulation
\nstipulating that the construction of new buildings in Setu
\nBabakan required a permit from the administration, and had to be
\nbuilt according to the style of Betawi architecture.<\/p>\n
He said any new buildings which violated the regulation would
\nbe torn down.<\/p>\n
The festivities for the city's anniversary include JakArt
\n2001, which starts this month. The art festival will take place
\nat the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center, the Jakarta Playhouse
\nand the Utan Kayu Theater, and will feature both local and
\nforeign artists.<\/p>\n
Another event is the Kebun Sirih Night Tour, which will take
\nplace on Saturday evening on Jl. Jaksa in Central Jakarta. Betawi
\nsouvenirs and food will be sold during the event and traditional
\ndances will be performed along the street, which is famous with
\nbackpackers for its low-cost motels.<\/p>\n
The anniversary celebrations will be highlighted by the annual
\none-month Jakarta Fair, starting on June 15. The fair will
\nfeature art and cultural performances, as well as serving as a
\ntrade and promotion fair. It will be held at the Kemayoran
\nairport in Central Jakarta. (jun)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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