Candra Naya relocation rejected

JAKARTA: A consultant with the City Culture and Museum Agency reiterated on Thursday his team's rejection of the Modern Group's proposal to relocate the late-18th century Chinese mansion, Candra Naya, to Taman Mini Indonesia Indah.

Mundardjito, a member of the consulting team for cultural conservation, said that in principle, an archaeological heritage site must not be moved from its original location. "Its authenticity in space must never be changed, neither should its authenticity of workmanship," he said on the sidelines of a lecture and book launch commemorating his contributions to archaeology in Indonesia.

The Modern Group, Candra Naya's owner and investor of a shopping mall to be constructed on the site, plans to dismantle the historic building on Jl. Gajah Mada, West Jakarta, and reassemble it at the Taman Mini theme park in East Jakarta.

The Office for Conservation of the Directorate of Archaeology and Museum at the Ministry of National Education also rejected the Modern Group's proposal.

Head of the Office for Conservation Gatot Ghautama recommended that Candra Naya be incorporated into the mall, perhaps as a cafe, and become a focal point of the shopping complex. -- JP

;JP;MULTA FIDRUS; ANPAj..r.. Greater-rally-Tangerang Workers protest contract system JP/5/GREATER

Workers protest contract system

JAKARTA: Some 2,000 workers of PT EDS Manufacturing Indonesia, a cable producer on Jl. Raya Serang, Balaraja district, staged a rally at the regency manpower agency office here on Thursday to demand that the company's contract system for workers be scrapped.

The workers, mostly females, filed a complaint with the office because the company's management had not responded to their demand although they had been on strike for five days.

Sriwati, who has been working for two years with the company, said the workers also demanded a transportation allowance and a leave allowance. In addition, they asked the company to allow them to propose a work agreement between workers and the management.

The company human resources manager Slamet said that the management would dismiss the striking workers because the company regulation only tolerated absenteeism for two days.--JP