Megawati attends monthly parade

President Megawati Soekarnoputri attended on Sunday the first monthly afternoon parade since the fall of former president Soeharto in May 1998.

Megawati's husband Taufik Kiemas and several top state officials, including Minister of Home Affairs Hari Sabarno, Minister of Tourism I Gede Ardika and National Police chief Gen. Da'i Bachtiar, were present in the ceremony, locally known as parade senja.

Featuring old and modern songs and dances performed by elementary and high school students, the parade marked the monthly transfer of duty of presidential guards.

One of the dances was choreographed by Megawati's brother Guruh Soekarnoputra, who also attended.

Some 300 people watched the parade from across the palace.

Initiated by presidential guards, the parade was held during Soeharto's regime on the 17th of every month in commemoration of Indonesia's Independence Day on Aug. 17, 1945.

When he was president, Soeharto never attended the parade himself, which was subsequently discontinued after his resignation in 1998.

Organizers moved the parade from its original schedule on Thursday, due to the visit Thailand Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. -- JP