City gears up for Independence Day

JAKARTA: To celebrate the country's 58th year of independence, the city administration has scheduled several events to mark the big day, which falls on Aug. 17.

The city's five municipalities and Thousand Islands regency have organized the events, including public entertainment in their respective areas on Aug. 18, with dangdut performances as the main attraction.

"We hope the programs in the six areas will involve all Jakartans in the extravaganza," said Deputy Governor Fauzi Bowo, who was chairman of the organizing committee for the capital's anniversary, on Monday.

Fauzi said the organizers had arranged 37 programs, involving local governments, private businesses and the local community.

One of the programs is the Kalimalang Festival in East Jakarta, which will hold several fun games like "Ball War" played on the water, an betel palm tree climbing competition and five-a- side soccer.

At Ancol Dreamland in North Jakarta, dozens of betel palm trees are to be erected to attract more participants.

The programs organized by the city includes a flora and fauna exhibition from Aug. 8 to Aug. 15, the opening of the ape enclosure at Ragunan Zoo on Aug. 10 and the officiation of the Sudirman monument on Jl. General Sudirman, Central Jakarta, on Aug. 16. -- JP