Over 100,000 Jakartans watch national parade

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)