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)