Megawati attends monthly parade<\/p>\n
President Megawati Soekarnoputri attended on Sunday the first
\nmonthly afternoon parade since the fall of former president
\nSoeharto in May 1998.<\/p>\n
Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas and several top state
\nofficials, including Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno,
\nMinister of Tourism I Gede Ardika and National Police chief Gen.
\nDa'i Bachtiar, were present in the ceremony, locally known as
\nparade senja.<\/p>\n
Featuring old and modern songs and dances performed by
\nelementary and high school students, the parade marked the
\nmonthly transfer of duty of presidential guards.<\/p>\n
One of the dances was choreographed by Megawati's brother
\nGuruh Soekarnoputra, who also attended.<\/p>\n
Some 300 people watched the parade from across the palace.<\/p>\n
Initiated by presidential guards, the parade was held during
\nSoeharto's regime on the 17th of every month in commemoration of
\nIndonesia's Independence Day on Aug. 17, 1945.<\/p>\n
When he was president, Soeharto never attended the parade
\nhimself, which was subsequently discontinued after his
\nresignation in 1998.<\/p>\n
Organizers moved the parade from its original schedule on
\nThursday, due to the visit Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin
\nShinawatra. -- JP<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/megawati-attends-monthly-parade-1447893297",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}