Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Monumen Nasional

Monumen Nasional or the popular abbreviated MONAS or Tugu MONAS is a monument as high as 132 meters (433 feet) which was established to commemorate the resistance and the Indonesian people's struggle for independence from the Dutch East Indies colonial administration. Construction of this monument began on August 17, 1961 under the orders of President Sukarno, and opened to the public on July 12, 1975. The monument is crowned with flame-coated gold leaf that symbolizes the spirit of the glowing struggle. National Monument is located right in the middle of Merdeka Square, Central Jakarta. Monuments and museums are open every day starting at 08:00 to 15:00 West Indonesia Time. On Monday last week of each month is closed to the public.
  
*History
After the central government of the Republic of Indonesia returned to Jakarta after the previous domicile in Yogyakarta in 1950 following the recognition of the sovereignty of the Republic of Indonesia by the Dutch government in 1949, President Sukarno began thinking about building a national monument which is equivalent to the Eiffel Tower on the ground right in front of Merdeka Palace. Monas monument Development aims to commemorate and preserve the Indonesian struggle during the revolution of independence, 1945, to continue to inspire patriotism and spirit of present and future generations.
On August 17, 1954 a national committee was formed and a national monument design competition held in 1955. There are 51 works entered, but only one works made by Frederich Silaban who meet the prescribed criteria of the committee, among others, describe the character of the Indonesian nation and can last for centuries. The second contest was held in 1960 but again none of 136 participants who meet the criteria. Chairman of the jury later asked Silaban to show the design to Sukarno. However, Sukarno less like the design it and he wanted the monument was shaped phallus and yoni. Silaban then asked to design a monument with a theme like that, but the design of the proposed Silaban too extraordinary that the costs are very large and can not be borne by the state budget, especially when economic conditions were bad enough. Silaban refused to design a smaller building, and suggested that development be postponed until the Indonesian economy improves. Sukarno then asks architect R.M. Soedarsono to resume the draft. Soedarsono enter number 17, 8 and 45, represent begin August 17, 1945 proclamation of Indonesian independence, into the design of the monument. The National Memorial was later built in the area of ​​80 hectares. This monument diarsiteki Silaban and R. Friedrich M. Soedarsono, began construction August 17, 1961.
At the top there is the cup that sustains Monas bronze torches weighing 14.5 tons and 35 Kilograms of gold coated. Flame or torch, measuring 14 meters high and 6 meters in diameter consisting of 77 sections that are put together. This flame as a symbol of the spirit of struggle of the Indonesian people who want to achieve independence. Initially the flame is coated sheet bronze gold weighing 35 kilograms, but to welcome the celebration of half a century (50 years) Indonesian independence in 1995, gold leaf was re-covered so as to achieve weight 50 kilograms of gold sheet. Top of monument in the form of "Fire Nan unremitting" was significant for the Indonesian nation always has a fiery spirit in the struggle and never recede or outages of all time. Court of the cup to provide views for visitors from a height of 17 meters from ground level. Court of the cup can be reached via an elevator when it fell from the top court, or through the ladder reached the bottom of the cup. High court of the cup from the bottom of 17 meters, while the high range of space history museum to the bottom of the cup is 8 m (3 feet below ground plus 5 meters of stairs to the base plate). Area of ​​the square courtyard, measuring 45 x 45 meters, it is the preservation of sacred figures Proclamation of Independence (17-8-1945).


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