Kite festival down in W. Java

BANDUNG (JP): The Pangandaran International Kite Festival, to be held on Pangandaran beach in Ciamis on Saturday and Sunday, has received only six confirmations from the 20 invited countries.

Titien Soekarya, the head of the local office of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said on Tuesday that 36 people from 13 countries participated in the 1997 event.

She said the decline might be due to security fears.

Representatives from Austria, France, Japan, Malaysia, Brunei Darrussalam and Australia are confirmed. Events to be contested including international stunt kite, creation kite and a traditional kite flying show. (43)b