Betawis want city to buy Condet area

Betawis want city to buy Condet area

JAKARTA (JP): An office in charge of preserving the native
Jakartan Betawi culture, urged the administration to buy land in
Condet, East Jakarta to ensure the remains of the culture there
remained intact.

Badan Musyawarah Betawi Head Abi Djamroh said there used to be
three areas representative of Betawi culture. They were Kampung
Gedong, Kampung Teguh and Condet, all in East Jakarta.

Unfortunately, he said, the latter two have vanished. Much of
the land there has been bought up and office buildings built.

"If the city does not buy the land in Condet the Betawi
culture will vanish," Abi said while breaking the fast Wednesday.

He said Condet had to be preserved because it was difficult to
find an area in Jakarta where Betawi people were still dominant.

Many of urban Betawis have long been pushed out toward the
city's edge.

The city, he said, should preserve the area even though many
Condet residents area were willing to sell their land.

"The solution would be to buy their land," Abi said.

Moreover, he urged Jakartans of Betawi blood to help preserve
their culture, by such means as saving their money to help the
poor. This, he said, would prevent them from selling their land.

In 1971, the municipality designated Condet in East Jakarta
the Betawi people's fruit and flora preservation center, meaning
the area was supposed to be closed to newcomers wanting to build
houses and other structures.

The program failed, as the administration was inconsistent
about reinforcing its regulations. Many people have been given
official permits to build houses there.

Councilor Atje Mulyadi said earlier the administration should
clarify its plans for Condet, and be consistent with its rules.

"The administration does not appear to be serious in its
policy on Condet," Atje said, and it needed "more political
will".

Jakartans of Betawi origin are estimated to make up 2.5
million of Jakarta's nine million people. (ste)