Fri, 17 Oct 1997

Councilor opposes Monas gas station

JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor urged Governor Sutiyoso yesterday to snub the official opening of a gas station in the western parking lot of the National Monument (Monas) park.

The head of the City Council's Commission E for welfare affairs, Soeparmo, said the Monas area had been designed as a park.

"I don't agree with the presence of the gas station in the area," he said. "Please respect the monument as it is part of our heritage."

On Oct. 27, the governor is scheduled to inaugurate the gas station, which was built by the city administration in cooperation with the private firm PT Otogas Karya Pratama.

Prawoto Danumihardjo, from the city's administrative and development affairs office, said Wednesday that the station will not disturb the park.

"It has been carefully planned," he said. "Don't worry."

"The station is meant for vehicles that have been converted to compressed natural gas (CNG) and its patrons will include City Hall civil servants and members of the public."

There are already 200 official vehicles which have been converted to CNG and another 300 are expected to be modified by the municipality next year.

The gas station, which cost Rp 400 million (US$114,285) to build, has been operating for the last three days.

But Soeparmo reiterated that the Monas area had been cleared of its tennis courts, restaurants and an amusement center to make way for the park.

"The area is clean now. Don't start ruining it again. Don't ignore the spiritual value of Monas just for the sake of business," he said.

The Monas park was established as a result of Presidential Decree No. 214/1959, which was later adjusted by Presidential Decree No.16/1961.

Monas used to be managed by the Ministry of Culture and Education but responsibility for the area was officially transferred to the Jakarta governor on Aug. 26, 1978.

Monas, an initiative of the late president Sukarno, was built as an Indonesian landmark. (05/07)