Sutiyoso to release his own deer in Monas
Sutiyoso to release his own deer in Monas
Bambang Nurbianto, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Governor Sutiyoso will have to donate some of his personal deer
to realize his wish to see the animals roam freely in the
National Monument (Monas) park.
The governor's deer are scheduled to be released in Monas on
Monday, after the State Secretariat failed to issue a permit to
relocate 10 deer from the Bogor Palace to the park, as had been
the original plan.
A consultant to the city administration's deer project, Hadi
S. Alikodra, said on Thursday the governor would donate five does
from his house in Cibubur, East Jakarta. Another five deer will
be donated by the National Intelligence Agency (BIN).
Alikodra said BIN has promised two does and three bucks, which
will be taken from the BIN park in Kalibata, South Jakarta, which
is home to hundreds of deer.
The deer zone in Monas Park will be officially opened by
President Megawati Soekarnoputri on June 5, in accordance with
World Environment Day.
City Hall spokesman Ahyat M. Awe said that during the ceremony
on June 5, the President also was scheduled to officiate at the
unveiling of a "walk of fame" -- a monument containing imprints
of the soles of feet of former presidents, former Jakarta
governors and distinguished persons.
All surviving former Jakarta governors and presidents, except
Soeharto, will be invited to the ceremony.
"Soeharto is not invited because he is ill," Ahyat said.
Sutiyoso hit upon the idea of releasing deer in Monas park
following the completion of the controversial project to erect a
fence around the park, at the cost of Rp 9 billion (more than
US$1 million).
The deer project has been questioned by many people, who fear
a crowded area like Monas is not a suitable home for deer.
Sutiyoso has ignored the critics, saying the plan has been
approved by experts.
Alikodra, an expert on the Javan ox at the Bogor Agriculture
Institute, was hired by the city administration to coordinate the
team tasked with preparing for the release of the deer in the
park.
Alikodra corrected an earlier statement that he had obtained a
permit from the State Secretariat to relocate 10 deer from the
Bogor Palace to Monas park.
He did not explain why the permit had not been issued, but
stressed that the State Secretariat has agreed to the relocation
of the deer.
He also would not comment whether the failure to issue a
permit had anything to do with a dispute between the city
administration and the State Secretariat over the management of
the Bung Karno sports stadium.
Alikodra had said earlier that the deer from the Bogor Palace
would be released in Monas on May 22.
Five hectares of land, or 5 percent of Monas square, have been
prepared for the deer. Some 1.5 hectares of the land has been
planted with grass expected to be the food source for the
animals, which consume between five kilograms and seven kilograms
of grass per day.
Trees have been planted on some 3.2 hectares of the land to
provide shelter from both the sun and rain.