Parents protest dusty contest venue

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)