Betawi cultural reserve plan criticized

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)