Councilors unhappy with historic site demolition<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): City councilors expressed their disappointment
\non Monday over the demolition of the back part of the heritage
\nlisted Antara building on Jl. Antara in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Soeparmo and Nitra Arsyad, head and member of Commission E for
\nsocial welfare affairs respectively, blamed the state news
\nagency, Antara, which demolished the building and are currently
\nconstructing a four story building at the site, for \"having
\ndisrespected\" the newly enacted bylaw on historic buildings in
\nthe capital.<\/p>\n
According to Soeparmo, the old Antara building is listed as a
\ncategory \"A\" historic building -- as stipulated in the city's
\nbylaws. There are restrictions regarding any changes to heritage
\nlisted buildings, including their exteriors.<\/p>\n
\"What's the use of a bylaw if it's to be breached only a few
\ndays after being enacted?\" he asked.<\/p>\n
Nitra suggested the ongoing construction of the new building
\nshould be halted until the matter was dealt with.<\/p>\n
\"The city administration should immediately investigate the
\ncase,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The council, whose members end their tenure on Wednesday,
\npassed the bylaw for the preservation of historic buildings and
\nsurrounding areas in the capital on Aug. 12.<\/p>\n
Under the bylaw, all parties are obliged to preserve such
\nbuildings and their surrounding areas even though the properties
\nwere owned by individuals or companies.<\/p>\n
The bylaw categorizes historic buildings and the surrounding
\nareas based on their history, age, originality, uniqueness,
\nlandmark and architecture.<\/p>\n
Secretary of Antara news agency, Kardiman Soekardi, said on
\nMonday from his office at Wisma Antara building on Jl. Medan
\nMerdeka Selatan, that the four-story building construction is
\ndesperately needed by the agency to make use of the agency's
\nassets.<\/p>\n
\"We are having to pay extra for the expensive rent here (Jl.
\nMedan Merdeka Selatan office). We will save a great amount of
\nmoney if we could use our building on Jl. Antara,\" he said.<\/p>\n
He said the agency currently rented five stories of the Wisma
\nAntara building.<\/p>\n
He however refused to reveal the amount paid.<\/p>\n
\"Following the move of several divisions from here to the new
\nbuilding, we will only rent four stories here,\" Kardiman said.<\/p>\n
According to him, the agency had met all regulations required
\nfor the redevelopment of the old buildings.<\/p>\n
Antara, for example, possesses recommendation letters from the
\ncity's museum and restoration agency and the team of city
\narchitecture controllers (TPAK), the secretary said.<\/p>\n
Contacted separately, TPAK chairman M. Dhanisworo said that
\nhis team was only given a report from Antara after the building
\nhad been demolished earlier this year.<\/p>\n
\"It is fait accompli. We, indeed, have recommended the project
\nafter several meetings as they planned to adjust the design of
\nthe new building to suit the old one (at the front).\"<\/p>\n
\"However I still feel disappointed because they hired
\narchitects from the construction works who do not understand
\nabout constructing old buildings,\" Dhanisworo said.<\/p>\n
Hermes found!<\/p>\n
Councilors Soeparmo and Nitra also questioned the city
\nadministration's responsibility over the loss of the historical
\nGod of Hermes statue from Harmoni bridge in Central Jakarta.<\/p>\n
Governor Sutiyoso said that he would soon order officials of
\nrelated agencies to trace the whereabouts of the 94-year-old
\nstatue, which had been reportedly missing since Friday.<\/p>\n
\"We'll search for it,\" he told reporters.<\/p>\n
He insisted that the statue's thieves would receive severe
\npunishment for their misdeeds.<\/p>\n
However, seconds after Sutiyoso had left following his
\nbriefing to reporters, the head of the city's public works
\nagency, Fardly Katib asked the press whether they had just been
\nquestioning the governor about the statue.<\/p>\n
Fardly then explained to the reporters that the little bronze
\nstatue of God of Hermes had been secured by his men and is
\ncurrently kept safety at his office.<\/p>\n
According to him, the statue had to be rescued after almost
\nfalling from its position after the bridge's wall was hit by a
\ncar.<\/p>\n
\"To avoid the statue falling into the (Ciliwung) river, we
\ntook it. It's still in our office,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Fardly said the statue would be returned to its original place
\nshortly after the agency finished repairing the bridge. (ind\/jun)<\/p>",
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