Independence Day celebrations announced

Independence Day celebrations announced

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

City residents will have several options to celebrate and
commemorate the 57th anniversary of Indonesia's independence
across the city ranging from cultural events to exhibitions.

The City Park Agency, for example, is giving away 5,000 fruit
plant seedlings during the 2002 Jakarta Flona (Flora and Fauna)
Fair held from Aug. 2 until Aug. 19 at Lapangan Banteng square in
Central Jakarta.

"The seedlings will be distributed free to visitors as long as
they can produce a Jakarta identity card (KTP)," the agency's
head, Mauritz Napitupulu, told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday.

The agency will provide rambutan, durian, mango and starfruit
seedlings.

The agency is also organizing a sheep-fighting event on Sunday
and a cock-fighting competition on Aug. 18.

Separately, the chairman of the anniversary committee,
Djailani, told the Post that the Flona Fair was only one of more
than 100 events organized by the city administration to
commemorate Independence Day.

"Other events include flag-hoisting ceremonies and paying a
visit to Kalibata Heroes' Cemetery," he said.

"We are also going to provide entertainment shows for city
residents to commemorate Independence Day."

Among the entertainment shows are Panggung Merdeka
(independence celebrations) to be staged on Aug. 18 at National
Monument Square (Monas) and a wayang kulit (shadow puppet) show
on Aug. 20 to be performed in front of Merdeka Palace.

"Insya Allah, President Megawati Soekarnoputri will attend the
Panggung Merdeka event," said Djailani, who is Jakarta's deputy
governor for social welfare affairs.

Djailani failed to give a specific budget for all the events,
saying it was residents' participation.

Meanwhile, city spokesman Muhayat said events related to city
agencies would be covered by the City Budget through their own
routine spending.

"But we are encouraging companies to sponsor the entertainment
events."