Sutiyoso to host thanksgiving

JAKARTA (JP): Jakarta Governor Sutiyoso said on Tuesday he would host a mass gathering to celebrate the successful General Session of the People's Consultative Assembly.

"The gathering, called a selamatan (thanksgiving), will be held on Wednesday as Gus Dur suggested," the governor said. President Abdurrahman Wahid is popularly known as Gus Dur.

The governor said the gathering would be held at the National Monument in Central Jakarta beginning at 5:30 p.m.

City administration spokesman Muhayat said some 800 guests, including officials from the Jakarta chapters of political parties, councilors and leaders of non-governmental organizations, had been invited to the thanksgiving.

Muhayat said seven tumpeng (ceremonial dishes of yellow rice served in the shape of a cone) would be cut by Sutiyoso, the mayors of the city's five mayoralties and City Council Speaker Edy Waluyo during the event.

"The gathering will be a simple one," he said.

He said Sutiyoso and the guests also would perform the evening prayer during the thanksgiving.

The governor promised last week to hold a mass gathering to celebrate the Assembly's successful General Session and the election of Abdurrahman and Vice President Megawati Soekarnoputri. (jun)