Betawi cultural reserve plan criticized

JAKARTA (JP): A senior expert of Betawi culture insisted on Thursday that the proposal to develop a 150-hectare Betawi cultural reserve in Srengseng Sawah, South Jakarta, was politically motivated.

Ridwan Saidi from the Betawi Cultural Institute accused Governor Sutiyoso of aiming to gain the support of the Betawi (Jakarta natives) to maintain his position, which has been rocked by a series of protests.

"The plan is merely designed to comfort the Betawi for the governor's personal interests," Ridwan, who is also chairman of the New Masyumi Party, told The Jakarta Post.

Sutiyoso, who will end his five-year term in 2002, could not be reached for comment.

Sutiyoso, from the Central Java capital of Semarang, has proven his commitment to promote the Betawi and their culture since the early days of his governorship by having Betawi performances at official ceremonies.

When he moved to his official residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, he adopted the Betawi tradition of having horse-drawn carts, Ondel-Ondel (life-size puppets) and elderly Betawi to participate in a parade escorting him and his family members to their new home.

"I always do my best to encourage their existence and culture," the governor has said on many occasions.

Following the downfall of Soeharto, Sutiyoso had to face a series of protests for the next few months in which protesters demanded he step down for his alleged role in the 1996 bloody takeover of the headquarters of the Indonesian Democratic Party, which was then led by Megawati Soekarnoputri.

Maj. Gen. Sutiyoso was a city military commander at the time.

Ridwan said his remark was based on the fact that 45 percent of the total 20 million population of Greater Jakarta are Betawi.

He also said the Jakarta administration, since the governorship of Ali Sadikin in the 1970s, had not been serious in its plan for a Betawi cultural reserve.

"The authorities have not issued a decree to help realize the project, only statements. Therefore, the plan always ended in failure," he said, pointing to a similar plan which was adopted by the East Jakarta area of Condet.

The Condet project, in which residents were to build or renovate their houses in classical Betawi architecture, was not realized for several reasons, including the lack of funding in the city's budget.

Ridwan, however, insisted that the administration should go all out if they want to attain the project's goals.

"The administration must first issue a decree on the project. Then the administration must provide a special plot of land for the construction of houses using Betawi architecture," he said.

Asking people in the area to build their houses in traditional Betawi style was not feasible, he said.

"The locals will sell their land at any time if they need cash. On the other hand, the authorities have no power over prohibiting people from selling their property," Ridwan said.

Separately, Samsoedin, spokesman of the Srengseng Sawah subdistrict administration, agreed with Ridwan, adding that the social status and culture of the Betawi also endorsed the trend.

"The Betawi have a lower social status than newcomers, and they often sell their land for a living," he told the Post at his office.

He added: "It is also the way of the Betawi to sell their land to get new wives."

A local figure, Abdul Rochim, 57, said that the Betawi in Srengseng Sawah worried that the value of their property would drop significantly should the city's plan be imposed.

But he said he would volunteer to allow his house, located on a 5,000-square-meter plot of land, to be refurbished in Betawi- style architecture.

Samin Jebul, another senior Betawi, said he would do the same as Rochim but asked for compensation.

Mohammad Sadli, a local youth figure, said he supported the governor's idea to preserve cultural Betawi heritage in the area.

"But it should not only focus on buildings, but also on the other forms of culture, such as traditional songs and dances," he said.

The Srengseng Sawah project will need a total investment of Rp 308 billion (US$41.4 million), which will be obtained from city administration, private donors and investors.

The area, which is currently home to some 34,000 people, of whom half are Betawi, will be developed into a tourist site by rejuvenating existing lakes and trees which bear tropical fruit and constructing theaters and museums representing the Betawi culture. (asa)