Festive mood rules the day
Festive mood rules the day
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
A festive mood prevailed through most parts of the country when
Indonesians observed the 57th anniversary of their independence
on Saturday.
Merdeka Palace was the center of celebrations with the annual
hoisting of the flag in full military ceremony.
But unlike in the past, the original flag hoisted in 1945 was
not a part of the ceremony due to its fragile condition.
The ceremony, presided over by President Megawati
Soekarnoputri, was attended by Vice President Hamzah Haz as well
as other top state officials, foreign ambassadors, veterans and
other dignitaries.
As last year, none of the former presidents showed up for the
celebration. Try Sutrisno and Sudharmono were the only former
vice presidents seen among the guests.
Most of the family of founding president Sukarno participated
in the celebration, except for Rachmawati Soekarnoputri, who
instead appeared on a television show, where she criticized her
sister Megawati.
Pictures of all the former presidents from Sukarno to
Megawati's predecessor, Abdurrahman Wahid, adorn the way leading
to the palace's hall.
One of the ceremony's main attractions was the appearance of
family members of both Megawati and Hamzah. Their children wore
the same white-and-red kebaya traditional dress and suit as the
President and Vice President.
Megawati was dressed in a white-and-red kebaya created by
noted designer Samuel Wattimena.
Elsewhere, the independence anniversary was celebrated by
residents from all walks of life.
Jakarta residents flocked to recreational sites, such as Ancol
beach in North Jakarta, causing heavy traffic congestion along
the major routes there.
Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII) in East Jakarta also saw a
significant rise in the number of visitors who came to watch,
among other performances, the barongsai (lion dance) and wayang
kulit (shadow puppet) show.
In other parts of the city, residents gathered to celebrate by
staging carnivals, games and other activities.
Suharyoso, a resident of Cempaka Baru, Central Jakarta, said
the celebrations' atmosphere this year was merrier and more
entertaining compared to last year.
The community had raised Rp 2 million (US$227) to finance the
festivities.
The most popular events were the decorated bike parade,
greased-pole climbing, a contest where participants tried to
catch eels and transfer them to other tanks, chess and domino
tournaments, as well as a karaoke singing contest.
The celebrations were not limited only to Indonesians as
several tourists also took part in the events held on Jl. Jaksa,
Central Jakarta. Unlike last year's celebration when the tourists
were purposely invited, this year's participation was more
spontaneous and enjoyable.
Business was relatively slow at several shopping centers in
Glodok and Mangga Dua, West Jakarta, with many vendors deciding
to close up shop, allowing the usually busy areas to become quiet
for the rest of the day.
In Atambua, East Nusa Tenggara, thousands of pro-Indonesia
East Timorese refugees renewed their allegiance to the country
during a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Noelbaki refugee camp in
Kupang regency.
About 1,000 refugees attended the ceremony, which also saw
them read a six-point political statement expressing their
loyalty to Indonesia.
"Independence Day reminds us of our own choice to integrate
with Indonesia in 1976, which vanished with the help of an
international conspiracy," Armindo Soares, the chairman of an
umbrella group of East Timorese refugees, the Uni Timor Asawain
(Untas), told The Jakarta Post.
In other parts of the country, residents took part in
traditional boat races, such as in Palembang and Jambi.
Meanwhile, people in the South Kalimantan capital of
Banjarmasin held a mass prayer in remembrance of the national
heroes who fell in their fight for independence.