City urged to build Betawi art and culture village<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): The Betawi (Old Jakarta) culture body has urged
\nthe city administration to set up a Betawi art and culture
\nvillage as a bastion to preserve old Jakarta's legacy.<\/p>\n
The body's Chairwoman, Emmi Busri, said in a hearing with
\nCity Council Commission E for social welfare yesterday that such
\na \"village\" was badly needed, as Betawi art and culture has begun
\nto vanish.<\/p>\n
\"It's our responsibility to preserve it,\" she said, adding
\nthat the body is yet to prepare a detailed plan for the village.<\/p>\n
Emmi said the administration could designate a district where
\nBetawi artisans would be free to hold workshops and engage in
\nvarious cultural activities.<\/p>\n
\"We want the district to have a Betawi atmosphere where
\nvisitors can easily experience the Betawi traditional way of
\nlife,\" she said. She said the idea was adopted from the artists
\nvillage in Bali.<\/p>\n
\"The village can also become a tourists' destination. Tourists
\ncan experience the culture and food of the Betawi people,\" she
\nsaid<\/p>\n
The commission's chairman, Atje Mulyadi, said it is not that
\neasy to find an area in Jakarta where Betawi people are still
\ndominant.<\/p>\n
In 1971, the administration designated Condet in East Jakarta
\nas the center of the Betawi people's fruit and flora preservation
\ncenter, meaning that the area is supposed to be closed to
\nnewcomers who want to build houses and other structures.<\/p>\n
The program has failed, since the administration has been
\ninconsistent in reinforcing its own regulation to preserve
\nCondet. A large number of people have received official permits
\nto build houses there.<\/p>\n
Atje said an area in Condet is probably suitable for the art
\nand cultural preservation plan. \"But the administration's policy
\non Condet should be made clear first. The administration must be
\nconsistence with its decision made in 1971,\" he said. He said the
\nadministration does not appear serious in its policy on Condet.<\/p>\n
Atje said the idea to preserve Betawi art and culture is
\nappreciated. \"The administration's political will is needed to
\nrealize the idea,\" he said. (yns)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/city-urged-to-build-betawi-art-and-culture-village-1447893297",
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