Soeharto joins young citizens to celebrate Children's Day
JAKARTA (JP): President Soeharto together with 440 eight to 12-year-old children celebrated National Children's Day at Taman Mini in East Jakarta yesterday.
The President and First Lady Tien Soeharto as well as the Vice President and Mrs. Try Sutrisno were warmly welcomed by the children, who were singing the Children Day march to the accompaniment of the Cikini School orchestra.
About 25,000 children took part in yesterday's celebration and 440 of them came from 27 provinces. The students selected were the best from various schools.
Soeharto said in his speech that even though the children get an education at school, the families cannot ignore their role.
"Education within the family has become more important in establishing children's personalities amidst fast social changes," he said at the ceremony which took place at the Sasono Langen Budoyo building.
After his speech, Soeharto conducted long-distance interviews with children in Kupang, Palangkaraya, Bengkulu, Manado and Bandung.
Proud
During the talks, each one told him that they were proud to have the opportunity to talk to a president albeit only via satellite.
Soeharto responded by advising them to be proud of being Indonesian citizens and to love local products.
Responding to the children's question about how to become a president, Soeharto said that they should work hard to master science and technology so as to be chosen by the People's Consultative Assembly one day.
At the occasion Mrs. Soeharto told the children that she only graduated from a Dutch elementary school because her father could not afford to finance her education any further.
"My father had already retired from service then," she said.
The President and his ministers later visited the Istana Anak- Anak (Children's Palace), located at the other corner of the Indonesia in Miniature Park, to watch performances put on by the children.
One of the programs was a wayang (traditional puppet) show with a primary school pupil acting as the puppeteer.
About 50 Indonesian children later danced a number called dolanan bocah, an adaptation of various provincial dances. At the occasion ten Japanese children sang a traditional Japanese song, accompanied by a band.
After the dance performance three children interviewed Minister of Health Sujudi and Minister of Social Services Inten Suweno about their childhood and how they became cabinet ministers.
Sujudi then, in a symbolic gesture, distributed eyeglasses to 10 primary school children whose parents could not afford the expense.
At the occasion Minister Inten Suweno handed over donations from PT Astra 2000 Toyota to five orphanages.
The same celebration was also held at the park's provincial pavilions.
Children's Day was celebrated in all of Indonesia's 27 provinces yesterday. (05)