Agus, Annisa exchange wedding vows

Agus, Annisa exchange wedding vows

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta/Bogor

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's firstborn son, First Lt.
Agus Harimurti Yudhoyono, 27, exchanged vows with TV host Annisa
Larasati Pohan, 24, at 2:20 p.m. on Friday, without his parents
at the ceremony.

"The President and First Lady Kristiani Herawati are not
attending the ceremony. This is because of the Javanese tradition
that disallows them from attending to indicate that they
sincerely accept their son's decision," said presidential
spokesman Andi Mallarangeng.

To accompany his son, the President appointed his brother-in-
law Maj. Gen. Erwin Soedjono, an officer in the Army's Strategic
Reserves Command, to represent him. Vice President Jusuf Kalla
acted as a witness.

The groom and entourage left for the home of the bride -- who
is the daughter of former Bank Indonesia deputy governor Aulia
Pohan -- from the State Palace in a bulletproof limousine, which
is usually used by the President when he travels to the House of
Representatives to read his address to the nation and for
visiting foreign heads of state.

"It is the groom's right to use the limo because he is a
member of the President's family, and, based on regulations,
should be accorded VVIP security and facilities," said Andi.

In Friday's ceremony, the groom presented as a dowry a Muslim
prayer outfit and Rp 872,005, the numbers of which represent the
wedding date.

The reception will be held on Saturday evening in Bogor
Palace, which abuts the Bogor Botanical Gardens, which has been
guarded by at least eight military tanks since Friday.

Bogor authorities will close part of the access to the venue
and redirect traffic from 12 p.m. Saturday. The reception will
start at 6:30 p.m.

At least 700 police officers will be deployed to direct
traffic and to guard the venue.