Minister slammed for excavation<\/p>\n
Theresia Sufa, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The Archeological Heritage Protection Office in Banten,
\nWest Java, condemned Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agiel
\nMunawar on Thursday for allegedly digging up the Batutulis
\narcheological site in the South Bogor district of Bogor.<\/p>\n
Head of the office Endjat Djaenuderadjat said the minister
\nbroke Law No.5\/1992 on the protection of national heritage and
\ncould be sentenced to 10 years in jail and fined a maximum of Rp
\n100 million.<\/p>\n
The minister allegedly ordered the site to be excavated on
\nWednesday on the suggestion of a psychic.<\/p>\n
\"How come a minister doesn't think rationally? We regret that
\nhe listened to a psychic. It not only goes against logic, but it
\nis also against the law. If a minister breaks the law, what would
\nhis subordinates do?\" Endjat said.<\/p>\n
He said that the excavation must be stopped and whoever was
\nresponsible for it should be prosecuted, no matter what his
\nposition.<\/p>\n
The excavation of the Batutulis historical site, located
\nacross from the Batutulis Palace, was conducted between 11 a.m.
\nand 8 p.m. on Wednesday and was allegedly witnessed by Agiel.<\/p>\n
But so far there are no reports of anything being found in the
\nfour-meter-long excavated area.<\/p>\n
South Bogor regent Achmat Ajiji said the minister had told him
\nthat he came to Batutulis to accompany a resident from Ciputat
\nwho was hunting for hidden treasure. The minister was reported to
\nhave told local officials to inform the public that work was
\nbeing done on the archeological site.<\/p>\n
In order not to attract public attention, the area surrounding
\nthe archeological site was covered with cardboard.<\/p>\n
Ajiji said he and the Batutulis subdistrict head were not
\ninformed beforehand about the excavation.<\/p>\n
\"We did not know about the plan, it was so sudden. But when
\nthey were about to dig up the area, we suggested that the
\nminister first ask for permission from the Archeology
\nInstitution,\" he said.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/minister-slammed-for-excavation-1447893297",
"image": ""
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