Flying the flag, Sutiyoso spend another Rp 3.5b<\/p>\n
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso looks set to continue with his ivory
\ntower projects, with Rp 3.5 billion (US$411,765) to be spent on
\nrelocating the Bendera Pusaka (heirloom flag) from the State
\nPalace to the National Monument (Monas).<\/p>\n
The latest money-burning project comes despite the fact that
\nJakarta has one of the lowest human development indices of any
\ncity in the world.<\/p>\n
The project will be funded by taxpayers' money and has already
\nbeen approved by the City Council in the 2003 revised city
\nbudget.<\/p>\n
The flag, which used to be hoisted during the Independence Day
\nceremony at Merdeka Palace, will be lodged in a gold-plated box
\nin the Independence Room inside Monas.<\/p>\n
The historical Garuda statue, Nusantara (archipelago) map and
\nproclamation text will also be encased in gold and put on show in
\nthe room along with the flag.<\/p>\n
Jakarta Culture and Museums Agency director Nurhadi said on
\nTuesday that some Rp 500 million of the money would be spent on
\nceremony marking the relocation of the flag from the State Palace
\nto Monas.<\/p>\n
Nurhadi said that the project was being undertaken to show
\nrespect for Indonesia's heroes, particularly former First Lady
\nFatmawati, the third wife of founding president Sukarno.<\/p>\n
\"Indonesia's independence declaration was marked by the waving
\nof this flag, which was hand-sewn by Ibu Fatmawati,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Given what has been happening of late, it comes as no surprise
\nthat President Megawati Soekarnoputri, the eldest daughter of
\nSukarno and Fatmawati, has reportedly endorsed the project.<\/p>\n
The flag relocation project is not the only \"improvement\"
\nproject undertaken by Sutiyoso at Monas.<\/p>\n
He was roundly criticized for fencing off Monas park and
\nturning it into something of a private deer park earlier this
\nyear. Then he got the bright idea of imitating the Hollywood Walk
\nof Fame by having the footprints of former presidents --
\nincluding former strongman Soeharto -- incorporated into the
\npedestrian walkway in front of Merdeka Palace.<\/p>\n
Another of his expensive, more-nationalist-than-thou projects
\nwas the construction of the Gen. Soedirman statue at Dukuh Atas
\nin Central Jakarta, which was inaugurated on Aug. 16.<\/p>\n
Apparently not satisfied with all of this, he was then
\ninspired to coat the Arjuna Wijaya statue with bronze.<\/p>\n
And meanwhile, the vast majority of the city's residents
\ncontinue to wallow in squalor and the garbage goes uncollected as
\nusual.<\/p>\n
Monas management office director Surya Dharma Basri said that
\nthe relocation process would be preceded by the installation of a
\nnew security system, including closed-circuit television (CCTV),
\nto enable the monitoring of the flag and other historical items
\nfrom both the State Palace and City Hall.<\/p>\n
The room would also need to be renovated as the flag would be
\nplaced in a box coated with 24-carat gold. Not to mention the
\ngold coatings for the other three historical items.<\/p>\n
Surya said that there would also be a mini indoor garden
\noutside the room, dominated, needless to say, by red and white
\nflowers.<\/p>\n
\"The project is expected to be officiated on Oct. 28 in line
\nwith the commemoration of Youth Pledge Day,\" he said.<\/p>\n
With many people are still suffering from the effects of fires
\nand evictions recently, Sutiyoso proudly stated that the cost of
\nthe project was cheap at the price.<\/p>\n
\"If the flag were to be fully unfolded, we would need Rp 6.5
\nbillion,\" he said, referring to the original proposal in the
\nbudget revision.<\/p>\n
Last week, more than 1,000 houses were razed by fire in Karet
\nTengsin, Central Jakarta, while an eviction operation in Tambora,
\nWest Jakarta, left around 10,000 people homeless.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso was also criticized for splurging out Rp 14 billion
\non the renovation of the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle and
\nfountain last year.<\/p>",
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