Joggers protest closure of Thamrin-Sudirman roads<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto and
\nMuninggar Sri Saraswati
\nThe Jakarta Post
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Those who used to jog and exercise along Jakarta's main arteries
\nof Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman in Central Jakarta are angry
\nabout Governor Sutiyoso's decision to close the roads to all
\nSunday sports activities.<\/p>\n
"The argument to close the roads is nonsense. It seems that
\nthe administration favor parks more than the people's need for
\nopen spaces," Rima, 27, an employee at a private company on Jl.
\nThamrin, told The Jakarta Post on Sunday.<\/p>\n
Rima was referring to the administration's failure to provide
\nopen spaces and parks for residents, forcing them onto the
\nstreets for exercise.<\/p>\n
"It's only once a week for a couple of hours, while the roads
\nare empty so motorists aren't disturbed .... Maybe people damage
\nthe median strips (along the roads), but I don't think it's a big
\ndeal and can be easily fixed by the parks agency," Rima said.<\/p>\n
Anita, 30, a graduate student at a state university, also said
\nthe new policy was "ridiculous".<\/p>\n
"Jakarta residents are the taxpayers, they pay taxes for the
\nroads too, so they deserve to enjoy them. It's completely unfair
\nbecause corrupt administrations have never provided proper
\nfacilities for the public. Now, tell me, where do they think
\npeople will go to exercise?" Anita asked.<\/p>\n
Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman, which normally are crowded with
\njoggers and other Sunday morning exercisers, were quiet
\nyesterday.<\/p>\n
The administration said it would deploy public order officers
\nto ensure people stayed off the streets, but the Post saw no
\nofficers along the streets at about 8 a.m. on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, city spokesman Muhayat said Jakartans who wanted to
\nexercise should go to the National Monument (Monas) park.<\/p>\n
"Instead of the closed arteries, we have provided Monas. So,
\npeople have alternatives for exercise," Muhayat said.<\/p>\n
The spokesman said the new policy was necessary because
\njoggers were damaging the median strips and wire fences that run
\nalong Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Sudirman.<\/p>\n
However, Muhayat said the policy was subject to evaluation,
\n"as happened when the administration allowed the roads to open
\nfor sport activities in the first place".<\/p>",
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