65 floats entered in Monas street festival

65 floats entered in Monas street festival

JAKARTA (JP): Join in the colorful street fiesta this Sunday
morning at Monas, or else stay far away from the square and Jl.
Thamrin area.

That's the official advice as 65 floats and 14 marching bands
will be taking part in a parade to mark Indonesia's 52nd
independence anniversary and Jakarta's 470th birthday.

President Soeharto will kick off the parade on the south side
of the square. Vice President Try Sutrisno, his wife Mrs. Tuti
Try Sutrisno and 2,000 invitees will attend the official
ceremony.

Hadi Laksana, an assistant to the organizing committee's
chief, said invitees should park to the east of Monas.

Everyone is welcome to watch the free parade but motorists are
advised to stay well clear of the area, he said.

Hadi said the 65 floats would be provided by government
institutions, state companies, private firms and foundations.

The marching bands will lead the procession, followed by a
group of young Indonesian men and women in traditional costume
and then the floats.

The marching bands will only go as far as the Hotel Indonesia
roundabout while the floats will go to the Semanggi interchange
and back to Monas.

The procession is scheduled to start at 7.30 a.m. and end by
10.00 a.m.

More than 1,000 members of the Security and Order Office and
the Jakarta Police will be deployed to keep order.

Hadi also announced the administration's plan to hold an all-
night puppet performance on Saturday.

The show, with famous puppet master Ki Asep Sunandar Sunarya
from West Java, will be held at the former IRTI building parking
lot on Jl. Merdeka Selatan.

The show, titled Satria Pinilih (The Chosen Knight), will
start at 7.30 p.m.

Before the puppet performance, the Tarling Cirebon group will
give a performance of traditional music from the West Java town
using bamboo instruments.

Both shows are also free of charge, Hadi said. (07)