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)