Damage threatens
\nnational heritage<\/p>\n
From Kompas<\/p>\n
The Kota railway station in Jakarta, built by the Dutch in
\n1828, is in bad repair. Its annex, used by the colonial
\ngovernment as an office to provide railway-related services, has
\nlost its original form. Within the station, besides its office
\nand ticket sale rooms, many spaces have been rented out to
\nprivate firms, so that they have been modified over the last 10
\nyears.<\/p>\n
In the 1980s, the annex served as a waiting room due to the
\nmany trans-Java trains picking up and dropping off passengers at
\nKota, but the building retained its original structure. Over the
\nlast two years, trans-Java trains have no longer picked up
\npassengers, although the waiting room continues to serve
\npassengers, particularly Jakarta-Bogor commuters.<\/p>\n
Part of the annex room now "idle" has been rented to private
\ncompanies, which have pulled down the structure for their
\nbusiness purposes -- with the station management's permission.<\/p>\n
However, as a national heritage asset, the station is
\nprotected by a law that preserves all historic and archeological
\nobjects and sites. Anybody intentionally damaging, stealing and
\nremoving such objects is liable to prison terms.<\/p>\n
So why has the demolition of the station annex, which is still
\nongoing, been tolerated? The relevant authorities should have
\nprevented the destruction and taken action against violators.<\/p>\n
Bribery is therefore suspected.<\/p>\n
RM IGN SOEDIRO
\nBogor, West Java<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/damage-threatens-1447899208",
"image": ""
},
"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
}