Jakarta Streets To See The Traditional Feminine

Jakarta - Approximately 200 of the city`s female traffic police will be on duty along the main roads of Jakarta this Kartini day, while female bus drivers will brighten busway lanes with traditional costumes.

“To celebrate Kartini day, female police will be posted at traffic lights on the main roads in Jakarta,” Adj. Comr. Husaima, from the traffic directorate of the Jakarta Police, said.

They will serve the public in two shifts from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m on Tuesday at the traffic lights at Senayan circle, Dukuh Atas on Jl. Jenderal Sudirman, the Hotel Indonesia traffic circle, Sarinah, Kebon Sirih, the water fountain at Thamrin Merdeka junction and Harmoni.

“We will not only be stationed on the streets but also will patrol the city by car and motorbike and will get air traffic news by choppers,” she said.

“Although the pilot and copilot on duty will still be our male counterparts,” she added.

There are about 2,000 female police officers in Jakarta, including 250 in the traffic directorate. The city police have at least 32,000 officers.

“But not everyone of us will wear the costumes we traditionally wear during Kartini day celebrations. We are working on the streets, of course it would be a little awkward for us to ride the motorbikes wearing kebaya,” she said laughing.

However, she said, some female police officers assigned to posts off the streets, including those at the vehicle ownership document issuance station, will wear the traditional kebaya costumes.

April 21 is the birthday of Kartini, a Javanese woman who was a women`s rights pioneer and fought for a women`s right to education at the turn of the 20th century.

Kartini day is celebrated across the country. School children hold traditional costume contests, emphasizing Kartini`s femininity over her feminist ideas.

While the main roads will be energized with female power, busway lanes will be festive as female bus drivers will wear ethnic costumes, as has been the tradition in past years.

Evta, a public relations officer from the Transjakarta busway consortium, said that the busway crew will commemorate Kartini day this year by bringing joy to the town with colorful costumes.

However, the city will only enjoy the festivity between morning and 1 p.m. as female bus drivers only work in the first half of the day.

The headquarters of several banks have also requested their employees wear traditional costumes to celebrate Kartini day.

Iskandar Tumbuan, Bank Mandiri`s head of media relations, said the bank has suggested their more than 20,000 employees celebrate Kartini day at every branch across the country.

“Although the essence of the celebration is not the costumes, by wearing the country`s traditional outfits we can also show our high respects to our heroes,” he said. (iwp)

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com (21 April 2009)
Photo: http://www.daylife.com

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