Betawi cultural reserve plan criticized<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): A senior expert of Betawi culture insisted on
\nThursday that the proposal to develop a 150-hectare Betawi
\ncultural reserve in Srengseng Sawah, South Jakarta, was
\npolitically motivated.<\/p>\n
Ridwan Saidi from the Betawi Cultural Institute accused
\nGovernor Sutiyoso of aiming to gain the support of the Betawi
\n(Jakarta natives) to maintain his position, which has been rocked
\nby a series of protests.<\/p>\n
\"The plan is merely designed to comfort the Betawi for the
\ngovernor's personal interests,\" Ridwan, who is also chairman of
\nthe New Masyumi Party, told The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, who will end his five-year term in 2002, could not
\nbe reached for comment.<\/p>\n
Sutiyoso, from the Central Java capital of Semarang, has
\nproven his commitment to promote the Betawi and their culture
\nsince the early days of his governorship by having Betawi
\nperformances at official ceremonies.<\/p>\n
When he moved to his official residence in Menteng, Central
\nJakarta, he adopted the Betawi tradition of having horse-drawn
\ncarts, Ondel-Ondel (life-size puppets) and elderly Betawi to
\nparticipate in a parade escorting him and his family members to
\ntheir new home.<\/p>\n
\"I always do my best to encourage their existence and
\nculture,\" the governor has said on many occasions.<\/p>\n
Following the downfall of Soeharto, Sutiyoso had to face a
\nseries of protests for the next few months in which protesters
\ndemanded he step down for his alleged role in the 1996 bloody
\ntakeover of the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party,
\nwhich was then led by Megawati Soekarnoputri.<\/p>\n
Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso was a city military commander at the time.<\/p>\n
Ridwan said his remark was based on the fact that 45 percent
\nof the total 20 million population of Greater Jakarta are Betawi.<\/p>\n
He also said the Jakarta administration, since the
\ngovernorship of Ali Sadikin in the 1970s, had not been serious in
\nits plan for a Betawi cultural reserve.<\/p>\n
\"The authorities have not issued a decree to help realize the
\nproject, only statements. Therefore, the plan always ended in
\nfailure,\" he said, pointing to a similar plan which was adopted
\nby the East Jakarta area of Condet.<\/p>\n
The Condet project, in which residents were to build or
\nrenovate their houses in classical Betawi architecture, was not
\nrealized for several reasons, including the lack of funding in
\nthe city's budget.<\/p>\n
Ridwan, however, insisted that the administration should go
\nall out if they want to attain the project's goals.<\/p>\n
\"The administration must first issue a decree on the project.
\nThen the administration must provide a special plot of land for
\nthe construction of houses using Betawi architecture,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Asking people in the area to build their houses in traditional
\nBetawi style was not feasible, he said.<\/p>\n
\"The locals will sell their land at any time if they need
\ncash. On the other hand, the authorities have no power over
\nprohibiting people from selling their property,\" Ridwan said.<\/p>\n
Separately, Samsoedin, spokesman of the Srengseng Sawah
\nsubdistrict administration, agreed with Ridwan, adding that the
\nsocial status and culture of the Betawi also endorsed the trend.<\/p>\n
\"The Betawi have a lower social status than newcomers, and
\nthey often sell their land for a living,\" he told the Post at his
\noffice.<\/p>\n
He added: \"It is also the way of the Betawi to sell their land
\nto get new wives.\"<\/p>\n
A local figure, Abdul Rochim, 57, said that the Betawi in
\nSrengseng Sawah worried that the value of their property would
\ndrop significantly should the city's plan be imposed.<\/p>\n
But he said he would volunteer to allow his house, located on
\na 5,000-square-meter plot of land, to be refurbished in Betawi-
\nstyle architecture.<\/p>\n
Samin Jebul, another senior Betawi, said he would do the same
\nas Rochim but asked for compensation.<\/p>\n
Mohammad Sadli, a local youth figure, said he supported the
\ngovernor's idea to preserve cultural Betawi heritage in the area.<\/p>\n
\"But it should not only focus on buildings, but also on the
\nother forms of culture, such as traditional songs and dances,\" he
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The Srengseng Sawah project will need a total investment of Rp
\n308 billion (US$41.4 million), which will be obtained from city
\nadministration, private donors and investors.<\/p>\n
The area, which is currently home to some 34,000 people, of
\nwhom half are Betawi, will be developed into a tourist site by
\nrejuvenating existing lakes and trees which bear tropical fruit
\nand constructing theaters and museums representing the Betawi
\nculture. (asa)<\/p>",
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