Historians fight for island<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Historians have asked the municipality to
\ndeclare Onrust Island, in the Thousand Islands chain, a heritage
\npark to save its historical sites.<\/p>\n
Dirman Surachmat, former head of the city's museum and
\nhistorical agency, said yesterday that the appeal was made during
\na two-day symposium on the island.<\/p>\n
A similar appeal was made during two previous symposiums but
\nthe municipality seemed slow to respond, he said.<\/p>\n
This week's symposium, which ended Wednesday, was aimed at
\nhighlighting the cultural significance of the island to the
\ninternational community and providing the city administration
\nwith suggestions for preserving it.<\/p>\n
The 12-hectare Onrust (which means \"always busy\" in Dutch)
\nIsland can be reached by boat from Tanjung Priok Port within 90
\nminutes.<\/p>\n
The island has a collection of historical ruins, including a
\nfort from the Dutch colonial era.<\/p>\n
It was used early this century as a quarantine center for
\nIndonesians before and after the haj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n
Onrust Island has been neglected since Indonesia's
\nindependence in 1945 and its destruction continued until the
\n1960s, when it was abandoned and the ruins virtually ignored.<\/p>\n
The symposium also suggested the municipality conserve Cipir,
\nKelor and Bidadari islands and declare the area a heritage park.<\/p>\n
\"The nearby islands should be protected as well. The natural
\nfactors, such as waves and strong winds, and human involvement,
\nsuch as sand dredging, removing coral and stealing pieces of the
\nbuildings have contributed to the island's poor condition,\"
\nDirman said.<\/p>\n
\"Actually environmental deterioration of the historical
\nvestiges of Onrust Island and its surroundings can be brought
\nunder control by allowing the site to be used for archeological
\nresearch, marine and historical tourism, and as a heritage park
\nto be included on the world heritage list,\" Candrian Attahiyyat,
\nhead of the symposium's organizing committee, said.<\/p>\n
Candrian said that until now the municipality has not come up
\nwith a plan to save the island.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, we urge the city administration and central
\ngovernment to preserve the island by seeking the support of other
\ninternational communities, especially historians and
\narcheologists,\" he said.<\/p>\n
The city's assistant for economic and development affairs,
\nPrawoto Danumihardjo, told The Jakarta Post that the municipality
\nhas yet to decide on a plan to save Onrust Island.<\/p>\n
\"The municipality has tried some approaches in order to find
\nthe right development plan for the island but we can't reveal it
\nnow,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Haswidi Taufik, head of the city's museum and renovation
\nagency, said yesterday that his agency will present the results
\nof the symposium to the governor early next year.<\/p>\n
An official, who asked not to be named, said the city did not
\neven have a complete map of Onrust Island.<\/p>\n
\"How can the city formulate a plan if we haven't even got the
\nright map?\" he said.<\/p>\n
Dirman said that the city needs to enact a decree to maintain
\nthe island.<\/p>\n
\"It's worthless if we keep on talking without doing anything
\nto save the island,\" he said. \"The island may erode away while we
\nare still talking about it.\" (07)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/historians-fight-for-island-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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