Art market construction plan faces strong opposition<\/p>\n
Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Magelang, Central Java<\/p>\n
Strong pressure against a plan to build an art market near
\nBorobudur Temple in Central Java has finally made authorities
\nbuckle, but not for good.<\/p>\n
Central Java Governor Mardiyanto agreed to cancel the project
\nlast month until an agreement with a wider group of concerned
\nparties was reached.<\/p>\n
The planned Rp 48 billion project was first introduced by
\nformer minister of tourism Joop Ave and then reintroduced by
\nMardiyanto in an effort to manage the crowded commercial
\nactivities around the world famous Buddhist temple.<\/p>\n
PT Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan and Ratu Boko,
\nwhich has the license to manage tourism activities, as well as
\nstreet vendors in the area are considered to have violated zone
\ndivision regulations by operating in zones prohibited for such
\nactivities.<\/p>\n
For instance, PT Taman Wisata violated regulations when
\nhosting the launching of a new BMW product in the temple's
\ngrounds. Meanwhile, street vendors have long been considered
\nannoying, insisting tourists buy their wares.<\/p>\n
Under the plan, the Jagad Jawa Art Market (PSJJ) is designed
\nas a \"shopping center\" with 1,200 kiosks inside to accommodate
\nabout 1,500 vendors. The mall-style, three-story building will
\nalso provide information about Borobudur and various tourist
\nfacilities for visitors.<\/p>\n
\"We plan to manage the flow of tourists in a way so they'll
\nvisit the art market. In fact, the market is also designed to
\naccommodate those who do not want to climb the temple,\" said
\nWiendu Nuryanti, chairwoman of the market's development team.<\/p>\n
Governor Mardiyanto also tried to convince people that the
\nmarket was planned as an effort to raise the incomes of local
\nresidents who, surprisingly, have the lowest income per capita in
\nMalang regency, despite the income generated by Borobudur.<\/p>\n
\"Jagad Jawa is designed for the benefit of local people. I do
\nhope no one will try to stop the planned project,\" Mardiyanto
\nsaid at a recent meeting with the protesting community in
\nSemarang.<\/p>\n
Vendors, however, did not warmly respond to the plan,
\nbelieving less buyers would visit the market. They feared they
\nwould not be able to compete with rich traders from outside
\nBorobudur in buying kiosks in the art market. Moreover, the
\nnumber of existing vendors exceeds the number of planned kiosks.<\/p>\n
\"In ordinary days, there are about 3,000 vendors and it
\nbecomes 5,000 vendors during the holiday seasons. How can the art
\nmarket accommodate them with 1,500 kiosks?\" asked Borobudur
\nvendor coordinator Priyono.<\/p>\n
Rejection of the plan also came from the Association of
\nIndonesian Architects and heritage activists.<\/p>\n
Tourist guide Arisworo Sutomo, also a writer of the Borobudur
\nTemple tourist book, feared the plan would decrease the temple's
\nsacred value. \"The temple's design adopts the mandala concept,
\nmeaning that the temple has to be free from big buildings within
\na radius of five kilometers,\" said Arisworo.<\/p>\n
Semarang-based architect Andi Siswanto said there was a need
\nto take aspects like natural aesthetics and spiritual energy into
\nconsideration in any development around the heritage temple.<\/p>\n
The Forum of Indonesian Young Architects (AMI) also rejected
\nthe plan, announcing recently that more and more people had
\njoined in their calls. In its e-mail to mass media, Marco
\nKusumawijaya of the forum said it had support from, among others,
\nPia Alisyahbana of the Indonesian Heritage Conservation Network
\n(JPPI), writer Julia Suryakusuma, choreographer Sardono W. Kusumo
\nand legislator Alvin Lie.<\/p>\n
\"We even received a special message from poet Sitor
\nSitumorang. He said Borobudur Temple is a world masterpiece.
\nShowing respect to it was a must for a civilized nation. That's
\nwhy Indonesians have to protect it from uncivilized commercial
\ninterests,\" Marco wrote, quoting the poet.<\/p>\n
A source in the Study and Conservation Agency of Borobudur,
\nhowever, said the planned building would not destroy the temple
\nor its archaeological value. The square where the building would
\nbe built was separated by a hill from the temple, making it
\ninvisible from the temple.<\/p>\n
The source even suggested constructing the development in the
\nform of small cottages instead of a mall-style building.<\/p>\n
But it seems the controversy won't go away.<\/p>\n
Governor Mardiyanto expressed his stance to familiarize the
\nplan's benefits to the community while taking in ideas from
\nvarious parties. He believed people were strongly against the
\nproject because they were not well informed.<\/p>\n
\"The commitment to preserve Borobudur Temple cannot just end
\nup by leaving it alone as an antique that can only be watched and
\nenjoyed or seen as a dead monument,\" he said.<\/p>",
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