Parents protest dusty contest venue

JAKARTA (JP): The final of a children's painting contest got off to a bad start Saturday with parents protesting about the dirty, unhygienic venue.

They were angry because the contest was held in the dusty hall D, which is still under construction, at Pasar Festival on Jl. H.R. Rasuna Said, South Jakarta.

It was the first day of a five-day final involving up to 5,384 children from kindergartens, elementary schools and junior high students. The first day involved about 1,000 children.

Promotion company PT Northindo Utama, in cooperation with the city office of the Ministry of Education and Culture, is organizing the event.

Some parents said they had asked the company to postpone the contest until it found another venue.

By 10:30 a.m. the hall was packed with four to 10-year-olds, who coughed and sneezed with their parents while waiting for the contest to open at 11:00 a.m.

"Who will be responsible if my child falls ill?" said Sudrajat, a parent.

Parents had paid between Rp 10,000 (US$4.2) to Rp 20,000 to register each child. Head of the ministry's city office, Sri Sudono, said he had told organizers to find another venue.

Organizing committee chairman Didit Widyanto said he had not booked the hall.

"I heard that the venue was changed (because of renovation) only four days ago by building management," he said.

The contest was continued outside despite demands of a change of venue. (03)