Residents prepare for Independence celebrations

Residents prepare for Independence celebrations

Novan Iman Santosa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

As Aug. 17 is drawing near, the city is overtaken by an
atmosphere of joyous celebration.

People have started to decorate the neighborhoods with the
national red-and-white flags, banners and umbul-umbul (decorative
flags) to observe Independence Day.

The appeal to beautify the city was made by no less than
Governor Sutiyoso himself in one of his circulars.

Not only the ordinary people, but all building owners and
management have been urged to decorate their buildings.

The administration has also set up a special committee to
handle activities related to the independence anniversary.

The committee has appointed a consortium of several outdoor
advertising companies to handle the placement of umbul-umbul in
commercial spots in the city.

"The appointment of this consortium is to prevent certain
parties from taking the opportunity to extort companies, who want
to place their names on the umbul-umbul," committee chairman
Djailani told The Jakarta Post over the weekend. It is also meant
to prevent any leakage of the funds generated from the taxation
on the banners or umbul-umbul, as had happened in the past.

Companies or residents may put their names on the banners and
umbul-umbul in public places, but they have to pay as it is
considered an outdoor promotional ad.

The city is not only erecting umbul-umbul but also other urban
decorations.

The Jakarta Street Lighting and Utility Agency, for example,
placed 32 new decorative lights in four designs in addition to
the 911 existing decorative lights citywide.

"Each unit costs about Rp 5 million on average. The structure
is seven meters high," the agency's official responsible for the
decorative lighting, Chairil Anwar, said.

"Two of the designs are basically old ones and the others are
different designs."

City councillors Posman Siahaan and Sayogo Hendrosubroto
supported the idea to encourage business enterprises to take part
in brightening up the celebrations.

"Decorating the city is one way to express our gratitude for
our freedom. It is what we can do to thank our heroes," said
Sayogo of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI
Perjuangan) faction.

"But it must not stop there as the most important thing is how
to foster our sense of nationalism and patriotism."

Sharing the same opinion, Posman said that such a drive to
beautify the city was the responsibility of all residents.

"This is how we show our love for our country and our city,"
he said. "Who does not want to have a beautiful city?"

But Posman, from the Justice and Unity Party (PKP) faction,
quickly added that there were more things to do than just
decorate the city.

"The most important thing is how to create an awareness among
residents of how important our independence is.

"We can't achieve such an awareness just by ceremonial
activities. But as a start it is fine."

Meanwhile, Deddy Iriawan who manages an architectural firm on
Jl. Dharmawangsa in South Jakarta said that his company always
hoisted a red-and-white flag in celebration of Independence Day,
but did not decorate the building due to financial constraints.