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)