Councilors unhappy with historic site demolition

Councilors unhappy with historic site demolition

JAKARTA (JP): City councilors expressed their disappointment
on Monday over the demolition of the back part of the heritage
listed Antara building on Jl. Antara in Central Jakarta.

Soeparmo and Nitra Arsyad, head and member of Commission E for
social welfare affairs respectively, blamed the state news
agency, Antara, which demolished the building and are currently
constructing a four story building at the site, for "having
disrespected" the newly enacted bylaw on historic buildings in
the capital.

According to Soeparmo, the old Antara building is listed as a
category "A" historic building -- as stipulated in the city's
bylaws. There are restrictions regarding any changes to heritage
listed buildings, including their exteriors.

"What's the use of a bylaw if it's to be breached only a few
days after being enacted?" he asked.

Nitra suggested the ongoing construction of the new building
should be halted until the matter was dealt with.

"The city administration should immediately investigate the
case," he said.

The council, whose members end their tenure on Wednesday,
passed the bylaw for the preservation of historic buildings and
surrounding areas in the capital on Aug. 12.

Under the bylaw, all parties are obliged to preserve such
buildings and their surrounding areas even though the properties
were owned by individuals or companies.

The bylaw categorizes historic buildings and the surrounding
areas based on their history, age, originality, uniqueness,
landmark and architecture.

Secretary of Antara news agency, Kardiman Soekardi, said on
Monday from his office at Wisma Antara building on Jl. Medan
Merdeka Selatan, that the four-story building construction is
desperately needed by the agency to make use of the agency's
assets.

"We are having to pay extra for the expensive rent here (Jl.
Medan Merdeka Selatan office). We will save a great amount of
money if we could use our building on Jl. Antara," he said.

He said the agency currently rented five stories of the Wisma
Antara building.

He however refused to reveal the amount paid.

"Following the move of several divisions from here to the new
building, we will only rent four stories here," Kardiman said.

According to him, the agency had met all regulations required
for the redevelopment of the old buildings.

Antara, for example, possesses recommendation letters from the
city's museum and restoration agency and the team of city
architecture controllers (TPAK), the secretary said.

Contacted separately, TPAK chairman M. Dhanisworo said that
his team was only given a report from Antara after the building
had been demolished earlier this year.

"It is fait accompli. We, indeed, have recommended the project
after several meetings as they planned to adjust the design of
the new building to suit the old one (at the front)."

"However I still feel disappointed because they hired
architects from the construction works who do not understand
about constructing old buildings," Dhanisworo said.

Hermes found!

Councilors Soeparmo and Nitra also questioned the city
administration's responsibility over the loss of the historical
God of Hermes statue from Harmoni bridge in Central Jakarta.

Governor Sutiyoso said that he would soon order officials of
related agencies to trace the whereabouts of the 94-year-old
statue, which had been reportedly missing since Friday.

"We'll search for it," he told reporters.

He insisted that the statue's thieves would receive severe
punishment for their misdeeds.

However, seconds after Sutiyoso had left following his
briefing to reporters, the head of the city's public works
agency, Fardly Katib asked the press whether they had just been
questioning the governor about the statue.

Fardly then explained to the reporters that the little bronze
statue of God of Hermes had been secured by his men and is
currently kept safety at his office.

According to him, the statue had to be rescued after almost
falling from its position after the bridge's wall was hit by a
car.

"To avoid the statue falling into the (Ciliwung) river, we
took it. It's still in our office," he said.

Fardly said the statue would be returned to its original place
shortly after the agency finished repairing the bridge. (ind/jun)