'SARS no risk at Borobudur festival'

'SARS no risk at Borobudur festival'

PURWOKERTO, Central Java: Governor Mardiyanto dismissed on
Saturday fears that the worldwide outbreak of Severe Acute
Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) would adversely affect plans to hold
an international arts festival in the grounds of prominent
Borobudur temple, Magelang, Central Java, in June.

"It's a rare international festival. We are committed to
making the event a success, so there will be no changes to our
plans, whatever happens," Mardiyanto said on the sidelines of a
visit to Purwokerto.

He said his administration had anticipated the outbreak by
asking all hospitals across the province to set up a special team
to deal with people showing SARS symptoms. Two suspected cases of
SARS have so far been found in the province, with one of the
patients already discharged from the hospital.

"We will not take special precautionary measures, including
examining participants at the festival in connection with the
SARS epidemic," Mardiyanto said.

Participants from several countries affected by SARS,
including China, Singapore and Thailand, have confirmed their
entry to the festival. -- JP