Parachuting Highlights Sail Morotai Opening

Morotai, N Maluku (Antara Bali) - One hundred members of the Indonesian Defense Forces (TNI) and Police performed a parachuting show during the opening ceremony of Sail Morotai 2012, presided over by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, here Saturday.

The parachuters included female Army, Air Force and police members, jumping from a height of 8,000 feet and landing in front of the main stage at the Sail Morotai opening ceremony.

Soya-soya dances were also performed under the sea to entertain guests of Sail Morotai, part of an international yacht rally which began on July 27, 2012.

Following the Sail Morotai opening ceremony, President Yudhoyono visited the Trikora monument and inaugurated a World War II museum. Also, First Lady Ani Yudhoyono opened the Smart Home library.

Morotai Islands has many tourist attractions, a number of which are World War II heritage sites such as the islands of Sum-Sum and Dodola.

The island of Sum-Sum was used by Gen. Douglas MacArthur, the chief of the Allied forces in Asia-Pacific during WW II. The island also has a water spring, named Glass Water, where Gen. MacArthur often swam.(*/T007)