Jakartans invited to attend festivity at Monas Square<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has invited Jakartans
\nto come to the National Monument (Monas) square to attend the
\nKenduri Nasional grand festivity held for the 50th anniversary of
\nIndonesia's independence tonight.<\/p>\n
\"I invite all Jakartans to come with their families and
\nfriends to enjoy a joyful time together at the Monas square,\"
\nSurjadi said yesterday.<\/p>\n
The Kenduri Nasional grand party, costing Rp 975 million
\n(US$431,415), will also be attended by President Soeharto and
\nFirst Lady Tien and Vice President and Mrs. Try Sutrisno and a
\nnumber of cabinet ministers.<\/p>\n
The fiesta includes a dinner, traditional stage performances
\nand a spectacular fireworks display designed by Pierre-Allain
\nHubert, a 51-year-old fireworks master from France.<\/p>\n
The 30-minute-long fireworks display, named Burning the Sky of
\nJakarta, will explode 4,000 fireworks.<\/p>\n
Surjadi asked Jakartans attending the party not to disrupt the
\nevent because the main intention of the party is to share
\nhappiness with fellow Indonesians, irrespective of their social
\nstanding, race or religion.<\/p>\n
\"Just enjoy and watch the show,\" he said, urging the people
\nnot to wear valuable accessories and guard their wallets against
\npickpockets.<\/p>\n
The police also warned spectators of the festivity not to
\nbring any alcoholic beverages or weapons.<\/p>\n
About 5,500 security personnel, from the city police, military
\nand related agencies, will be deployed to safeguard the event.<\/p>\n
Chairman of the Organizing Committee Abdul Kahfi said that the
\nfestivity, which will start at 2:30 p.m. and last until midnight,
\nis projected to be attended by at least 500,000 Jakartans.<\/p>\n
\"It is important to obey the regulations set by the organizing
\ncommittee, the main one being not to bring privates cars to the
\nlocation,\" Kahfi said yesterday.<\/p>\n
He said that all hospitals in the city have been instructed to
\nbe on the alert to accept spectators who are hurt or have any
\nhealth problems during the event. There will be more than 100
\ndoctors and paramedics, as well as 20 ambulances deployed around
\nthe square.<\/p>\n
City police will start closing the streets around the area --
\nJl. Medan Merdeka Utara, Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jl. Medan
\nMerdeka Barat and Jl. Majapahit Baru -- to all vehicles except
\npublic buses at 2 p.m.<\/p>\n
The organizing committee urged Jakartans to park their
\nvehicles on Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Suryopranoto, Jl. Lapangan Banteng,
\nJl. Merdeka, Jl. Abdul Muis, Jl. Juanda and Jl. Majapahit.<\/p>\n
The festivity is divided into four main events: a national
\ndinner, a national cultural parade, a fireworks display and other
\nvarious entertainments.<\/p>\n
The dinner ceremony will start at 5 p.m. with a nasi tumpeng
\n(traditional steamed rice cones) parade. People will sit on
\nplastic mats around the streets of the monument to enjoy the
\ntraditional dishes.<\/p>\n
Each subdistrict will bring 20 trays of traditional food and
\nother meals will be provided by the city administration.<\/p>\n
The organizing committee has installed about 5,000 faucets so
\nthat Moslems can take ablutions for their prayer after dinner.<\/p>\n
The prayer will be followed by a national culture parade,
\nfeaturing 27 decorated vehicles, representing Indonesia's 27
\nprovinces.<\/p>\n
The parade will start with marching bands from the city,
\nincluding those from the Al-Azhar and Tarakanita high schools,
\nand will move around the square.<\/p>\n
After the fireworks display, people can enjoy various
\nentertainment conducted on stages erected around the park,
\nestablished by the city's five mayoralties. (yns)<\/p>",
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