'Indonesia is 59 but we haven't done anything meaningful'

'Indonesia is 59 but we haven't done anything meaningful'

Indonesia will celebrate its 59 anniversary on Tuesday and many
people nationwide are planning to welcome the anniversary by
holding festivities around the special day. The Jakarta Post
talked to city residents on what they planned to do on Aug. 17.

Ratna Sarumpaet, 55, is a playwright and chairwoman of the
Jakarta Arts Council:

I will shoot some scenes of my play called The Children of
Darkness at the Jakarta Playhouse by the Merah Putih Panggung
playgroup. The play will be released on VCD format and as a book.
They will be launched on Sept. 8.

But, what does this have to do with Independence Day?

Well, my play is about the victims of the Sept. 1965 coup-
d'etat and their offspring. Until today, they have yet to see
justice in the matter as the truth about the tragedy has still
not been revealed.

Don't you think my play is a great way to commemorate
Independence Day in a meaningful way?

Maya Yulianti, 26, is a promotions representative at a private
company on Jl. Sudirman, South Jakarta. She lives with her family
in Tebet, Central Jakarta:

I watch the flag-hoisting ceremony at the presidential palace
on my TV. I always like to watch it because it's so grand and
majestic. It is also very invigorating to see the red-and-white
flag being hoisted accompanied by the Indonesia Raya national
anthem.

I remember when I was a member of my school's flag-hoisting
team, I've always wanted to be one of the Paskibraka (the
national flag hoisting team). But, I never became one, maybe I
was not good enough.

I still like watching the ceremony, even on TV, and I hope it
is never abandoned.

Indonesia will be 59 years old but we haven't done anything
meaningful yet in our independence.

Teguh, 30, is a bajaj driver. He lives alone in a rented house
near the fish market in Muara Karang, North Jakarta:

Every year, I join the parades people hold in the neighborhood
unit for Independence Day. I also join the areca nut tree
climbing contest. You can get money or clothes or other things.

Although it's slippery, I usually can grab the prizes on top
of the pole, because there are four of us in a group. We climb
over one another to get to the top.

Sometimes I drive my bajaj. I don't know yet whether I'm going
to work on Tuesday.

Sr. Comr. Tjiptono is the Jakarta Police spokesman. He lives
in Depok with his family:

I will attend a ceremony at the Kalibata Memorial Grave in
South Jakarta on Aug. 16 at midnight. President Megawati
Soekarnoputri will attend the event.

On Aug. 17, at 8 a.m. I will attend the Independence Day
ceremony at the city police headquarters. Then, I will be at my
office, just in case some reporters want to ask me something. I
will also monitor the work of traffic police officers, lest
something need to be announced to the media.

I don't know if there will be festivities in my neighborhood.
But I won't be home until afternoon.

Indra Rizki, 29, is an employee at a private company in
Kuningan, South Jakarta. He lives with his wife in Jl. Bungur,
South Jakarta:

I am not doing anything special to celebrate the Independence
Day. However, as a good citizen, I will definitely hoist a flag
at home. That's the least I can do.

Maybe I'll join some competitions in my neighborhood to
commemorate the day -- soccer or volleyball matches. There are
also competitions for children such as cracker eating contests
and sack races.

Other than that, I'll just enjoy the day and watch TV. There
will probably be many programs and movies about how we struggled
for our independence on TV.

Sri Sulansih Warsito, 50, is a shadow puppeteer. She lives
with her family in Pancoran, South Jakarta:

I won't do any performances this Independence Day because I
have already asked to be the master of ceremonies in a tujuh
bulanan (a Javanese ritual to celebrate and bless a mother in her
seventh-month of pregnancy).

But I do have shows prior to the day, like one I'm organizing
today for a company.

There are many events in my neighborhood on Aug. 17. Usually I
partake in sports, just for fun. I do that only to be involved in
the community. This is the people's party, so it's good to take
part.

Helmi, 22, is an ojek (motorcycle taxi) driver living in
Setiabudi, Central Jakarta:

There will be festivities at a vacant field nearby Mencos
market, in Karet, on Tuesday. I think there will be some games
like sack races, cracker eating contests and the like, mostly for
children. As for young people like me, there will be an areca nut
tree climbing contest.

I think I'll just watch those events. Besides, I will probably
drive my ojek as usual. For me, Independence Day is not that
special.

-- The Jakarta Post