Hundreds take part in parade for peace

JAKARTA (JP): After days of rallies -- some of them violent, the capital enjoyed an arts performance on Sunday aimed at easing the political tension.

No less than 500 people took part in the celebration, which ranged from a parade to a music festival that lasted into the evening.

"It is a moral campaign and also entertainment for city residents to enjoy after days of demonstrations and violence. It is time to end these clashes," Anwar Sutrisno, the coordinator of the event, said in his opening remarks.

Some people arrived in medium-sized buses, while others showed up in the parking lot of the Senayan sports complex in traditional horse-drawn carriages, or delman.

The arts performance, sponsored by cultural activist Setiawan Djody of the Kantata Bangsa Foundation, among others, was mostly attended by university students from Jakarta and Bandung.

Among the those taking part in the parade were members of student organizations from Mercu Buana University, Trisakti University and Bina Nusantara University.

Noted poet Willy S. Rendra took part in an event titled Be Just My Country, Unite My People.

A march to the National Monument, some 10 kilometers to the north, began at about 3:30 p.m.

March participants stopped near the Semanggi cloverleaf and spread flower petals in remembrance of those "student heroes" who died in clashes with security personnel in front of Atma Jaya University.

" ... those reformist chameleons who used to overpower the country, now they are pretending to fight for the people ... we are deceived by freedom without democracy ...," Rendra read his poetry near the cloverleaf.

In his reading, Rendra conveyed a message of peace, calling on the community to refrain from violence, because in the end they were not the ones who would benefit.

Police redirected traffic into one lane to allow hundreds of city residents from all walks of life to assemble along the street to watch the parade. The police also were seen securing the streets.

After the stop at the Semanggi cloverleaf, the march proceeded to the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle. A group of 80 people from the Yadika Marching Band were giving a performance in front of the Grand Hyatt Hotel when the parade participants approached.

A dance troupe, Belpas, waited at the traffic circle to join the parade.

Belpas, which performed the barongsai lion dance, also conveyed a message of peace. Several banners attached to the sides of the buses carrying the dancers, carried calls to maintain the peace.

After Belpas completed its performance, most of the parade participants took buses to the National Monument (Monas), where a huge stage was set up. The 10-meter-by-15-meter stage was highlighted with huge white screens on each side.

Celebrities taking to the stage included Doel Sumbang, Elpamas, Sawung Djabo and Kantata Takwa, while Setiawan Djody delivered a political speech.

They sent a unified message to the community to eradicate political corruption and crime.

Meanwhile, hundreds of street vendors benefited from the large crowd that gathered to watch the performances. (07)