TMII celebrates silver jubilee with series of events

TMII celebrates silver jubilee with series of events

JAKARTA (JP): A series of educative, scientific and cultural
events are scheduled to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Taman
Mini Indonesia Indah (TMII).

The events, which began on April 16 and end on April 23,
involve hundreds of school students, artists, small-scale
entrepreneurs and young scientists all over Indonesia.

A special music concert called Merah-Putih by famous composer
and choreographer Guruh Soekarnoputra will be held on Thursday.

Other programs include traditional wayang (puppet)
performances, a scientific exhibition, drawing and singing
contests for school students and displays of traditional herbal
medicines.

Taman Mini spokesman Dandoel Hardoyono said no new buildings
would be inaugurated for this year's anniversary.

"We will only reopen the newly refurbished Komodo museum and
open a reptile park next to the museum," said Dandoel.

A commemorative book 25 Tahun Taman Mini (25 years of Taman
Mini) will be launched on April 20.

Established on April 20, 1975, by then first lady Tien
Soeharto, Taman Mini has weathered its initial controversy to
become a cultural landmark for Jakarta and Indonesia in general.

The project was carried out by Harapan Kita Foundation and
touted as a venue to showcase the riches and diversity of
Indonesia's diverse ethnic groups and cultures.

The initial proposal was met by opposition from students and
local residents, especially as the country was still enduring
economic hardships in the early 1970s.

The huge funding required for the project, which was
originally set to occupy about 400 hectares, was a source of much
of the opposition because Indonesians were still dealing with
economic woes left over from the 1960s. The acquisition of more
than 150 hectares in the Pondok Gede area of East Jakarta
provoked protests by residents.

The objections fell on deaf ears. The New Order government of
Soeharto was already tightening the screws on political freedom
and a project anointed by one of its members, particularly one
headed by Soeharto's family, could not be denied.

The construction of the first stage of the project, started in
1971, comprised 26 pavilions featuring the traditional and
cultural life of Indonesians from all the country's provinces.

An additional pavilion was added in 1976 to house East Timor
after it integrated into Indonesia. The province seceded from the
country in August last year and the East Timor pavilion is now
empty.

Additional facilities include places of worships and buildings
housing exhibitions on sports, zoology, science,
telecommunications and transportation. There are also military
museums, bird park, swimming pool, art gallery, youth hostel,
restaurants, an Imax theater and other buildings.

Taman Mini's management has customarily inaugurated a new
facility in conjunction with anniversaries. The most recent
additions were the Purna Bhakti Museum, the international
standard theater building Teater Tanah Airku and Bayt Al-Quran
Museum.

With its varied facilities and affordable tickets, Taman Mini
has become a favorite place for recreation for millions of
Indonesians, especially low to middle income groups.

It has been part of the itineraries of visiting foreign
dignitaries. Among the distinguished visitors were late Princess
Diana, former U.S. president George Bush, Pope John Paul and
former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher.

"We want to maintain and upgrade some run-down equipment and
buildings and we are committed to giving our best services to
visitors," said Dandoel.

Taman Mini, which employs about 680 people, is managed by the
Harapan Kita Foundation under the supervision of the Office of
State Secretary.

The city government was reportedly willing to take over the
ownership and management of Taman Mini, but there has been no
progress in the plan.

Many continue to identify Taman Mini with the family of
Soeharto, which is a liability as his reputation has sunk amid
allegations of corruption and abuse of power during his 32 years
in power.

The Purna Bhakti Museum is dedicated to Soeharto, while the
newly opened At-Tin grand mosque was built in honor of Tien
Soeharto, who died in 1996.

Dandoel acknowledged that many assumed Taman Mini was owned by
the Soehartos.

"It's a misperception. Taman Mini is a national asset."

After 25 years, Taman Mini's management still has its work cut
out for it in changing its negative public image. (raw)