Monas to house historic flag<\/p>\n
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso will resume the delayed Rp 3.5 billion
\n(US$388,889) relocation of the Bendera Pusaka, a historic
\nheirloom of the Indonesian people, from the State Palace to the
\nNational Monument (Monas).<\/p>\n
\"The State Secretary has given the green light to continue the
\nrelocation of the historic flag to Monas... But, we have not yet
\ndetermined whether it will be done at the end of this year or
\nnext year,\" he told reporters at City Hall on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso said the flag must be tightly guarded by Presidential
\nGuards to ensure its safety as well as to show respect for
\nIndonesia's heroes, particularly former First Lady Fatmawati, the
\nsecond wife of founding president Sukarno. Fatmawati's hand-sewn
\nflag was hoisted to mark the declaration of Indonesia's
\nIndependence.<\/p>\n
\"The changing of the guards can also be an additional tourist
\nattraction at Monas,\" he said, referring to a similar practice in
\nTaiwan and Russia and the Coldstream guards of London.<\/p>\n
The relocation project was delayed last year, following public
\noutcry over the planned Rp 500 million relocation ceremony.<\/p>\n
Most of the remaining Rp 3 billion has been spent to procure
\naround 15 kilograms of gold for the conservation room, security
\ncameras and alarms. The whole budget had been proposed in the
\n2003 revised city budget.<\/p>\n
The flag will be installed in a 24-carat gold-plated case in
\nthe Independence Room inside Monas.<\/p>\n
The flag will be placed beside the historic Garuda statue,
\nNusantara (archipelago) map and the original text of the
\nproclamation of Indonesia's independence. All will be kept gold-
\nplated display cases.<\/p>\n
In the room, visitors can listen to Indonesia's national
\nanthem Indonesia Raya and the reading of the proclamation text by
\nSukarno.<\/p>\n
The project is one of several grandiose projects conducted by
\nSutiyoso, although some say the money could be better spent to
\nalleviate poverty as 1.5 million out of 8.3 million Jakartans
\nstill live below the poverty line.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso has been roundly criticized for his beautification
\nprojects in Monas, including the fencing of the Monas park and
\nthe establishment of a deer zone inside the park. Monas is
\nfrequented by around 600,000 visitors per year.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/monas-to-house-historic-flag-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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