'Antara' building not demolished

'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