'Antara' building not demolished

With reference to the news items in The Jakarta Post of Aug. 23 and Aug. 24 editions on page 3, we would like to clarify that the articles or the false opinion that the historic Antara building situated on 57-59 Jl. Antara, Jakarta, has been demolished are not true.

This clarification is necessary because, in fact, the Antara management has no plan/intention to demolish the building; on the other hand, we will preserve it as an invaluable asset of the country.

The demolition that is underway at present involves the annex at the back of the Antara building. The annex was built between 1957 and the 1960s.

We are constructing a new four-story building exactly on the site of the former annex. And in compliance with the guidance of Jakarta Museum Service, the new building must not touch the old building and there must be a six-meter space between the two buildings. So this is exactly what we are doing.

The construction of the new building was started after obtaining a construction permit from the Jakarta administration, in this case the City Construction Control Service, through the normal procedure, without asking dispensation whatsoever from any party.

We hope this clarifies the inaccuracies found in the Post's articles concerning the historic Antara building.

PARNI HARDI

General Manager/Chief Editor

Antara