Foundation for conservation launched

Foundation for conservation launched

JAKARTA (JP): The Indonesian Foundation for Cultural Heritage
Conservation and Revitalization (Lestari Foundation) was launched
on Tuesday in an effort to increase public awareness and raise
funding for the conservation of Indonesia's much neglected
historical buildings.

Chairman Andy Siswanto said the foundation was established on
April 29 with an aim of assisting the government protect and
revitalize historical sites.

"Many technical substantive weaknesses and structural problems
confront the conservation and revitalization effort, including a
lack of public awareness, improper planning, design and
engineering skills and financing," Andy said.

Minister of Public Works Rachmadi B. Sumadhijo, who sits on
the foundation's supervisory board, noted that many buildings of
historical significance were simply abandoned because the owner
could not afford the high cost of revitalizing the site but could
not demolish it because of a government regulation.

"The conservation and revitalization of historical buildings
cannot guarantee a quick return on investment, therefore,
developers prefer instead to build shopping complexes, buildings
and hotels," Rachmadi said.

The Lestari Foundation, in cooperation with the government,
will conduct a public campaign to increase public awareness of
the importance of historical buildings.

The foundation is also developing a cooperation with various
mayoralties.

"The regional administrations of Semarang, Central Java and
Ujungpandang, South Sulawesi have expressed their intention to
revitalize their historical sites," Rachmadi said.

He added that the foundation was striving to have developers
and businessmen donate a portion of their revenue for
conservation activities.

"The central government doesn't have sufficient funding to
conduct the revitalization (by itself)," he added.

Rachmadi said that among the foundation's work, the initial
focus would be on buildings and sites in the Kota area of Jakarta
and the old part of Semarang in Central Java.

Interested parties seeking to be involved in the foundation's
work can contact the secretariat at Jl. Hang Tuah IX/35,
Jakarta.(02)