Folktale winners left empty-handed

BOGOR (JP): The three winners of the recent national competition on Indonesian folktales in English learned their prizes were fiction on Wednesday when they did not receive their promised cash awards from the organizers.

The three winners, which were to receive Rp 3 million, Rp 2 million and Rp 1 million for the first, second and third places respectively, were told during the awards ceremony on Wednesday that the organizers had failed to meet their promise to present the cash prizes due to the absence of sponsors.

Hendri Mefetra, one of the organizers, said on Thursday the decision had to be made since none of the 500 institutions and individuals, who they hoped would contribute, showed any enthusiasm for the 10-day competition.

"It seems to us that our businessmen still do not care about the efforts to promote authentic Indonesian culture," Hendri said.

Organized jointly by the Al-Umm Education, Training and Development Institution (LP3), state postal company PT Pos Indonesia and the Directorate General of Arts and Culture, the June 20 to June 30 folktale festival at the Bogor Botanical Garden had 13 participants.

Hendri had said 15 participants would take part in the event, which was aimed at promoting Indonesian folktales to foreign tourists.

In first place was Eri Novitasari, a senior high school student of SMUN I Cibinong, with a folktale from West Sumatra titled The Story of Minangkabau.

Rahmawati, a university student of the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB), retold a folktale from East Kalimantan titled Cleft Stone, which won her second place.

Third place went to Sri Wahyuni, a senior high school student of SMUN 6 Bogor, who chose the story from West Java of The Tangkuban Perahu Mountain.

None of the winners complained to the organizers.

"We thank God the winners said they were happy enough with the trophies they received from the Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Minister of Education and Culture and gifts from PT Pos Indonesia," Hendri said.

He promised the winners would be designated as the country's envoys to promote the folktales.

Hendri did not give further details of whether the winners would be sent to countries abroad to tell the folktales.

Last week he said the three winners of the contest would be given free return tickets to an overseas destination.(24/bsr)