City Council supports Monas fence<\/p>\n
Ahmad Junaidi, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Despite protests from the public, the City Council gave the green
\nlight on Wednesday to the city administration's plan to build a
\nfour-kilometer-long fence encircling the National Monument
\n(Monas) Park in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
The council's approval comes despite an earlier pledge to
\nreject the plan.<\/p>\n
The chairman of the council's Commission D for developmental
\naffairs, Sayogo, said after a hearing with officials from the
\nCity Parks Agency that the commission supported the Rp 9 billion
\n(about US$970,000) project, which is meant to prevent vendors and
\nprostitutes from operating in the park.<\/p>\n
\"The project must go forward because (the funding for) it has
\nbeen allocated in this year's city budget. However, we hope the
\nadministration will make further efforts to inform the public
\nabout the project,\" said Sayogo, who is a member of the
\nIndonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI Perjuangan) faction.<\/p>\n
Nine of the 11 commission members -- six from PDI Perjuangan,
\nthe largest faction in the council -- threw their weight behind
\nthe project.<\/p>\n
One of the councillors opposed to the plan, Mukhayar from the
\nJustice Party, said the fence would reduce the green area open to
\nthe public and would discourage people from holding rallies.<\/p>\n
\"The plan will restrict the voice of the people because the
\npark is a popular place to hold rallies,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Monas Park has long been a favorite gathering place for
\nJakartans, who have few other options in a city lacking in parks
\nand open areas.<\/p>\n
Used to host the Jakarta Fair until the 1980s, Monas Park's
\nonly function now is as a center of recreation for Jakartans.<\/p>\n
A lecturer at the University of Indonesia's School of
\nArchitecture, Karnaya, also attended the hearing at the
\ninvitation of the City Parks Agency. Though he ultimately
\nsupported the project, he said he had reservations.<\/p>\n
\"I am personally disappointed with the plan, but it is a last-
\nditch effort to protect the park,\" said Karnaya, who has been a
\nconsultant to the administration for about two decades.<\/p>\n
Karnaya said the fence was necessary to overcome Jakartans'
\ninability to keep the 82-hectare park as clean and orderly as
\nparks in more developed countries.<\/p>\n
In a meeting with landscape experts from Trisakti University
\non Monday, the councillors supported the view that the project
\nshould be canceled.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the city began a Rp 14 billion renovation
\nof the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle on Jl. Thamrin in Central
\nJakarta.<\/p>\n
The renovated traffic circle, which had been a very popular
\nlocation for rallies, will have a five-degree declivity and will
\nenjoy a constant drizzle from the water fountain in its center.
\nThe new design is believed to be aimed at preventing rallies at
\nthe traffic circle.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-council-supports-monas-fence-1447893297",
"image": ""
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