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)