Jakartans invited to attend festivity at Monas Square
Jakartans invited to attend festivity at Monas Square
JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja has invited Jakartans
to come to the National Monument (Monas) square to attend the
Kenduri Nasional grand festivity held for the 50th anniversary of
Indonesia's independence tonight.
"I invite all Jakartans to come with their families and
friends to enjoy a joyful time together at the Monas square,"
Surjadi said yesterday.
The Kenduri Nasional grand party, costing Rp 975 million
(US$431,415), will also be attended by President Soeharto and
First Lady Tien and Vice President and Mrs. Try Sutrisno and a
number of cabinet ministers.
The fiesta includes a dinner, traditional stage performances
and a spectacular fireworks display designed by Pierre-Allain
Hubert, a 51-year-old fireworks master from France.
The 30-minute-long fireworks display, named Burning the Sky of
Jakarta, will explode 4,000 fireworks.
Surjadi asked Jakartans attending the party not to disrupt the
event because the main intention of the party is to share
happiness with fellow Indonesians, irrespective of their social
standing, race or religion.
"Just enjoy and watch the show," he said, urging the people
not to wear valuable accessories and guard their wallets against
pickpockets.
The police also warned spectators of the festivity not to
bring any alcoholic beverages or weapons.
About 5,500 security personnel, from the city police, military
and related agencies, will be deployed to safeguard the event.
Chairman of the Organizing Committee Abdul Kahfi said that the
festivity, which will start at 2:30 p.m. and last until midnight,
is projected to be attended by at least 500,000 Jakartans.
"It is important to obey the regulations set by the organizing
committee, the main one being not to bring privates cars to the
location," Kahfi said yesterday.
He said that all hospitals in the city have been instructed to
be on the alert to accept spectators who are hurt or have any
health problems during the event. There will be more than 100
doctors and paramedics, as well as 20 ambulances deployed around
the square.
City police will start closing the streets around the area --
Jl. Medan Merdeka Utara, Jl. Medan Merdeka Selatan, Jl. Medan
Merdeka Barat and Jl. Majapahit Baru -- to all vehicles except
public buses at 2 p.m.
The organizing committee urged Jakartans to park their
vehicles on Jl. Thamrin, Jl. Suryopranoto, Jl. Lapangan Banteng,
Jl. Merdeka, Jl. Abdul Muis, Jl. Juanda and Jl. Majapahit.
The festivity is divided into four main events: a national
dinner, a national cultural parade, a fireworks display and other
various entertainments.
The dinner ceremony will start at 5 p.m. with a nasi tumpeng
(traditional steamed rice cones) parade. People will sit on
plastic mats around the streets of the monument to enjoy the
traditional dishes.
Each subdistrict will bring 20 trays of traditional food and
other meals will be provided by the city administration.
The organizing committee has installed about 5,000 faucets so
that Moslems can take ablutions for their prayer after dinner.
The prayer will be followed by a national culture parade,
featuring 27 decorated vehicles, representing Indonesia's 27
provinces.
The parade will start with marching bands from the city,
including those from the Al-Azhar and Tarakanita high schools,
and will move around the square.
After the fireworks display, people can enjoy various
entertainment conducted on stages erected around the park,
established by the city's five mayoralties. (yns)