Condet: Cultural reserve

Condet: Cultural reserve

From Merdeka

Condet's plight surfaced recently after news emerged of
Jakarta's interest to buy up the region. The administration plans
to do it for preventive reasons, in order to maintain and
conserve the Condet area as a cultural reserve in the area.

The plan has been received with mixed feelings by the people
of Condet, to the extent that local public leaders felt it
necessary to issue a press release on the subject.

It is clear that their fears are not wholly groundless,
because Condet has been a protected cultural reserve since former
governor Ali Sadikin's days. There was initially only sporadic
development in the region, of which most appeared in the form of
new houses occupied by nonindigenous people. However available
land is now dwindling daily, which places Condet's name as a
cultural reserve in disrepute.

One can imagine that if no preventive measures are taken over
this matter, the cultural reserve could be obliterated from the
face of Jakarta. Only its name would be left. That would not be
the only thing, Condet has been the pride of Jakarta as a source
for exotic fruits such as salak (snakeskin fruit) and dukuh, and
the Betawi culture and customs. These too might vanish one day.
Therefore, the city administration should pay serious attention
to Condet's plight, it should provide proper protection and
prevent invasions by nonindigenous people into the area, in order
to uphold it as a cultural reserve.

Aside from that, attention should be given to complaints and
fears from people who claim that certain parties have been
intimidating the population, and who feel they are in no position
to maintain the area for much longer as a cultural reserve.

There should be no need for more complaints from Condet people
as they have been the victims of enough intimidation and their
activities have been greatly undermined, while newcomers have
been given a big welcome and provided with land, which is
detrimental to the region's survival.

HERMAWAN KJ

Jakarta