Moerdiono rocks Bogor Palace with `Blue Suede Shoes'

BOGOR, West Java (JP): As APEC leaders deliberated inside Bogor Palace, poised to make their monumental decision, hundreds of waiting journalists were entertained by an array of singers and dancers, including a surprise performance by Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono.

For sheer entertainment value the main attraction here yesterday was not the closed leaders meeting but the lively stage performance at the International Press Center located a few hundred meters southwest of the palace.

Accompanied by the sounds of Los Morenos, local perennial favorites such as Dewi Yull and Heny Purwonegoro performed popular numbers especially prepared to enliven the journalists' 11-hour lull.

Close to midday Moerdiono, who is also chairman of the national APEC host committee, came to the Press Center and was immediately beckoned to sing.

Renowned for his vocal talent, Moerdiono jumped on stage to join singer Bob Tutupoly in a calypso rendition of Onde-onde and the Banana Boat Song.

La Bamba

The minister stayed on stage when a Chilean newsman did a rousing version of La Bamba and enlisted participation of "journalists", prompting many, like senior Indonesian journalist Rosihan Anwar, to trip the light fantastic.

The festive atmosphere heated up further when Moerdiono and Bob Tutupoly rocked the usually stoic grounds of the 249-year-old Bogor Palace with Elvis Presley's Blue Suede Shoes.

Amidst the excitement, some journalists typing on their portable computers obviously had a hard time keeping their hands from clapping and waving in the air.

The usually reserved Indonesian crowd also showed their true colors when dang dut songs were performed, causing the beautiful singer to be swarmed by some eight spirited journalists and officials gyrating on stage.

Also performing at the Press Center stage were a number of traditional dances including a luscious jaipong dance.

The tuneful diversion was a welcome relief for the many who had gathered at the palace grounds at 5 a.m. to report the proceedings of the APEC summit.

Some weeks earlier when inspecting preparations for the leaders meeting, President Soeharto himself had pointed out the need for journalists to be entertained during their long wait for the conclusion of the meeting. (mds)