Administration plans to support Betawi culture

Administration plans to support Betawi culture

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration has announced it will
provide special treatment and support for the Betawi culture in
recognition of the adminstration's unique role as a
representative of the Betawi culture.

Head of the City Culture Agency Sjahrial said on Saturday that
the city administration decided to pay special attention to
Betawi culture, which is considered the culture of natives of
Jakarta, as no other institution was eligible to perform the
duties to maintain such a culture.

Sjahrial said there was no political motive behind the
administration's special treatment.

"As the authority of the capital, the Jakarta administration
has the obligation to supervise all existing traditional cultures
here," he said while addressing the celebration of the 16th
anniversary of the Betawi Women's Association (PWB) at the Nyi
Ageng Serang building on Jl. Rasuna Said in South Jakarta.

"While non-Betawi cultures in the capital receive twice the
supervision, from both the Jakarta administration and the
authorities of their places of origin, Betawi culture is only
supervised by the Jakarta administration.

"Therefore, we (the city administration) will give more
treatment to Betawi culture than other cultures," he added.

He cited that special treatment was given to the Betawi arts,
by allowing them the opportunity to be performed at every
official function or when the administration received state
guests.

He said the city was home to 23 ethnically based arts groups.

Sjahrial also said that the administration's seriousness in
promoting Betawi culture was shown in the plan to develop a 150-
hectare Betawi cultural reserve in Srengseng Sawah, South
Jakarta.

"So, I hope that the Betawi people will make use of the
opportunity," he said.

Critics have alleged that Governor Sutiyoso had political
motives behind his policy of promoting the Betawi people and
their culture.

Sutiyoso, who was the city military commander when the July
27, 1996 riots broke out following the forced takeover of the
Indonesian Democratic Party's (PDI) headquarters on Jl.
Diponegoro in Central Jakarta, has repeatedly been called on to
step down from his governorship over his alleged involvement in
the tragedy which resulted in the deaths of at least five people.

Separately, PWB chairwoman Poppy S. Petra said the association
fully supported the administration's planned Betawi cultural
reserve.

"I don't see any political motives behind the city
administration's plan to promote our culture," she said.

"That's why the Betawi Women's Association supports the plan,"
she added.

The association's 16th anniversary celebration, which was
attended by the governor's wife, Rini Sutiyoso, was enlivened by
a bazaar, Betawi traditional dress contests and Nasi Begane Ayam,
the Betawi version of rice served in a cone shape.

PWB was established in 1984 by scores of Betawi women, with
the main objective of improving the life of Betawi women. (ind)