East Timor still part of TMII

East Timor still part of TMII

JAKARTA (JP): East Timor may have separated from Indonesia,
but in the Indonesia in Miniature park, the province is still
represented as part of the country.

General Manager of the park, Wibisono Singgih, told Antara on
Thursday that the East Timor pavilion has not been removed from
the park.

"We still pay the East Timorese working in the pavilion as
they do not want to return to their home town," he said.

He said that the park spends a total of Rp 2.5 billion on
monthly operational costs for the entire facility, including
maintenance expenses and employee salaries.

"The entrance fee is only Rp 4,000, much lower than the Ancol
recreational park," he said.

Because the park is facing financial problems, management has
asked the government for a tax deduction, which it used to enjoy
prior to 1998, he said.

The Taman Mini park is celebrating its 26th anniversary with a
week-long arts and cultural festival beginning on Sunday.

The event will include traditional and modern dance
performances, a ketoprak (traditional Javanese play) show by the
Samiadji group, and a discussion on the relationship between
music and children, featuring musician Addie MS.

One of the featured choreographers is Guruh Soekarnoputra,
Antara reported. A dangdut music concert will complete the
celebrations.

The 26th anniversary of the Taman Mini falls on April 20.

Singgih underlined that the park did not belong to the
Soeharto family, as some people seemed to think.

He said that it was built in 1972 by Yayasan Harapan Kita, a
foundation chaired by former first lady Tien Soeharto, and in
1975 was handed over to the state. The park, however, is still
under the management of the foundation.

He also denied the report that Soeharto owned a luxury house
in the park compound, saying that it is located outside the
area.(sim)