The National Monument (Monas) has been a symbol of Jakarta for decades. Built by the Sukarno administration in 1961 to show the world Indonesia's strength, the monument has been at the center of Jakartans' public life as well as a tourism site for visitors.
But the 3.5-meter-tall sturdy fences - erected around the park in 2002 - have deterred some people from coming there. Some critics and residents say the fences have made the park look arrogant and less friendly.
Activities at Monas sometimes create litter, cause damage to the monument's facilities and destroy plants. To keep the park clean and beautiful, the city administration has taken measures like evicting street vendors and hawkers, banning horse carts (delman), and limiting the number of large events such as New Year's Eve celebrations.
Nevertheless, Jakartans do not have many open public places like Monas, so people still come there for various purposes: playing sports, enjoying the green scenery, chatting with friends, congregating for a large event, or admiring the view from the top of the monument. It seems no matter how arrogant the park looks or how the officials forbid certain people from using the park, the public still say Monas is theirs after all.
-JP/Evi Mariani
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