Week of mourning delays many events
JAKARTA (JP): A number of celebrations have either been postponed or canceled in observance of the national week of mourning for First Lady Tien Soeharto, which began on Sunday.
Minister/State Secretary Moerdiono announced the official week of mourning on Sunday evening, following the first lady's death earlier that morning.
In connection with the announcement, various events around the city have either been postponed or canceled.
The official inauguration of a series of events to commemorate a noted composer -- the late Ismail Marzuki -- previously scheduled for May 4, will be postponed until May 9.
Renyda Ritonga, the organizer, who chairs the Indonesian Foundation of Musicians, said, however the month-long series of events called Bulan Setulus Kasih will run as scheduled from May 4 to 30 at a number of venues.
The Dutch embassy has canceled its annual National Day celebrations, planned to commemorate the ascendance of Queen Beatrix to the throne 16 years ago. The Oranje Ball, scheduled to be held on Monday at Jakarta's Shangri-La Hotel, was also canceled.
Three events have been postponed at the Jakarta Hilton International Hotel, a banquet officer said yesterday. In addition, two events were postponed at the Grand Hyatt Jakarta.
The privately owned PT Salomon Brothers Nusa Securities, in an advertisement published in yesterday's edition of The Jakarta Post, announced the postponement of its official opening celebrations at the Grand Hyatt, which were scheduled for today.
"Banquet reservations here are usually booked up to one year in advance," Ria Lita, a banquet employee at the Grand Hyatt said. A rescheduled booking at short notice would not be possible, she added.
The Forum Keadilan magazine, scheduled to celebrate its fifth anniversary on Monday, has also sent notices to its list of guests postponing the event indefinitely. Announcements were also made in several newspapers.
At the Kartika Chandra Hotel on Jl. Gatot Subroto, two events were also postponed. "But the bookings for weddings will unlikely be put off," said Syaidah, a banquet employee.
Banquet officials said rescheduling of the postponed events may take from a week to several months depending on available hotel space.
Corporate lunch and dinner meetings, which do not contain entertainment, are scheduled as planned, hotel employees said.
Live music at hotels will resume performances after 8 p.m. today, said Diah Prawitawulan, the public relations officer of the Mandarin Oriental Jakarta.
This is in line with a circulated notice from the city tourism agency for entertainment sites to stop activities from Monday to 8 p.m. tonight. (anr)