Over 100,000 Jakartans watch national parade

JAKARTA (JP): Over 100,000 Jakartans crammed the capital's main thoroughfares yesterday to catch a glimpse of a parade of colorful floats.

By 7:00 a.m., the streets stretching from the staging area around the National Monument to Jl. MH Thamrin and Jl. Jendral Sudirman were filled with people.

Jakartans swarmed the sidewalks, climbed bus shelters, packed pedestrian bridges and took over high rise buildings to get a view of the floats.

Even the Arjuna statue at the southern end of Jl. Medan Merdeka Barat was packed with spectators competing for a closer look.

Braving the blazing sun, spectators waved at the floats and cat-called the ones with pretty girls.

President and First Lady Tien Soeharto, as well as Vice President and Mrs. Try Sutrisno, watched the national development parade from a special stage in Monas Square.

The President kicked off the parade at 8:00 a.m.

The City Culture Office presented a traditional dance and released 2,000 red and white balloons, 100 of which were filled with vouchers worth Rp 50,000 (US$22.09) each.

A total of 90 floats representing government institutions, state-owned companies, private firms and foundations took part in the 35-kilometer parade.

The floats included 20 from central government institutions, 11 from regional administrations, 26 from state-owned companies, two from foundations and 15 vehicles from the Nusantara Flower Group which used animation technology.

Besides the floats, the parade also had 19 marching bands, an ondel-ondel (giant traditional puppets) art group and a group of male roller skaters.

The parade, which ended at about 11:00 a.m., caused serious traffic congestion along Jl. Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman as well as Jl. Gatot Subroto and Jl. MT Haryono.

Thousands had to walk home afterwards because of the jam. (yns)