Council waives plan to relocate heirloom flag

Council waives plan to relocate heirloom flag

Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post/Jakarta

It's not an issue of patriotism. The amount of money budgeted to
move Bendera Pusaka (heirloom flag) from the State Palace to the
National Monument (Monas) is just too steep, say Jakarta
councillors.

The city administration proposed the allocation of Rp 3
billion (US$300,000) for the plan, which was expected to start
next year.

But City Council Commission E for education, health and
people's welfare said that such a huge amount of money could be
used to finance more important programs.

"We agree to place the flag in Monas, but not with such a huge
budget," said Commission E chairman Dani Anwar while inspecting
the independence room, which will be used to house the heirloom
flag.

Members of Commission E visited the independence room on
Thursday to check the details of the project, which was
introduced by head of the City Culture and Museum Agency Aurora
Tambunan during a hearing with the commission on Monday.

The flag was hoisted on the country's first Independence Day
on Aug. 17, 1945 and was sewn by then first lady Fatmawati, the
wife of founding president Soekarno.

According to Dani, Commission E would consider approving the
allocation of the fund in the city budget for 2006 for the flag
relocation project as long as it would not need too much money.

"Our rejection has nothing to do with our respect for our
heirloom flag. It's simply that we do not want to spend that much
money," said Dani, who was supported by other members of the
commission.

During Monday's hearing, an official of the Jakarta
Development Planning Board said that the plan to move the flag
was part of preparations for the Independence Day commemoration
in 2006.

The flag-hoisting ceremony on Independence Day has always been
held at the State Palace.

The city had initially allocated Rp 8 billion for the project,
but the figure was revised downward after recalculation. The 2006
draft budget is now being deliberated by city councillors.

Responding to the councillors' opposition, Aurora said she
could understand the arguments of the councillors. She said that
she would report the opposition of Commission E to Governor
Sutiyoso.

Aurora said that the money would be used to preserve the flag,
prepare the place for the flag in the independence room,
lightening and a security system.

The administration also attempted to move the flag to Monas in
2003, but the plan was dropped after strong criticism from both
city councillors and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) over
the high cost.