Monas to house historic flag
Damar Harsanto, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso will resume the delayed Rp 3.5 billion (US$388,889) relocation of the Bendera Pusaka, a historic heirloom of the Indonesian people, from the State Palace to the National Monument (Monas).
"The State Secretary has given the green light to continue the relocation of the historic flag to Monas... But, we have not yet determined whether it will be done at the end of this year or next year," he told reporters at City Hall on Thursday.
Sutiyoso said the flag must be tightly guarded by Presidential Guards to ensure its safety as well as to show respect for Indonesia's heroes, particularly former First Lady Fatmawati, the second wife of founding president Sukarno. Fatmawati's hand-sewn flag was hoisted to mark the declaration of Indonesia's Independence.
"The changing of the guards can also be an additional tourist attraction at Monas," he said, referring to a similar practice in Taiwan and Russia and the Coldstream guards of London.
The relocation project was delayed last year, following public outcry over the planned Rp 500 million relocation ceremony.
Most of the remaining Rp 3 billion has been spent to procure around 15 kilograms of gold for the conservation room, security cameras and alarms. The whole budget had been proposed in the 2003 revised city budget.
The flag will be installed in a 24-carat gold-plated case in the Independence Room inside Monas.
The flag will be placed beside the historic Garuda statue, Nusantara (archipelago) map and the original text of the proclamation of Indonesia's independence. All will be kept gold- plated display cases.
In the room, visitors can listen to Indonesia's national anthem Indonesia Raya and the reading of the proclamation text by Sukarno.
The project is one of several grandiose projects conducted by Sutiyoso, although some say the money could be better spent to alleviate poverty as 1.5 million out of 8.3 million Jakartans still live below the poverty line.
Sutiyoso has been roundly criticized for his beautification projects in Monas, including the fencing of the Monas park and the establishment of a deer zone inside the park. Monas is frequented by around 600,000 visitors per year.