Thamrin-Sudirman closure canceled

Thamrin-Sudirman closure canceled

JAKARTA: Governor Sutiyoso has reversed his decision to close
Jl. M.H. Thamrin and Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Central Jakarta for
Sunday jogging and other sports activities amid mounting public
criticism over the controversial policy.

Though Sutiyoso himself announced the roads would be closed to
recreational users, Sutiyoso ordered his subordinates to announce
the policy u-turn.

City Park Agency head Mauritz Napitupulu confirmed on
Wednesday that Sutiyoso would allow Jakartans to use the roads,
provided they did not damage vegetation on the median strips.

"Pak Sutiyoso told me 'Okay, let's see. They (the people) can
use the roads as long as they maintain the parks'," Mauritz
quoted Sutiyoso as saying.

Sutiyoso decided to close from next Sunday, claiming people
had damaged the median strips by trampling on grass and flowers
and sitting on the fence wires.

Concurring with Sutiyoso, Mauritz said some parts of the parks
near the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle were damaged.

Sutiyoso's decision has raised the ire of the public who use
the roads for exercise on Sundays amid limited open spaces in the
capital.--JP