Historical building saved from damage: Officials

Historical building saved from damage: Officials

JAKARTA (JP): The city administration instructed on Friday
owner of the historical Supreme Court building on Jl. Lapangan
Banteng Timur in Central Jakarta to temporarily stop construction
activities at the back of the building due to damages which the
protect building has sustained there, an official said.

Chairman of the city's team on restoration council Wisnu Murti
Ardjo said the letter, signed by city secretary Fauzi Bowo, was
sent on Friday to the budget directorate of the Ministry of
Finance, the owner of the building.

"It's late already, but at least the building can be saved
from further damages," Wisnu said.

He said the recommendation to halt the construction activities
at the rear of the 172-year-old building was submitted to the
city museum and restoration agency after the team's evaluation
meeting in December last year.

"The city museum and restoration agency conveyed the message
to the development control agency, but it was likely discarded,"
he said.

However, he dismissed speculation that there had been lack of
coordination between the museum and restoration agency and the
development control agency.

The construction at the rear part of the old Supreme Court
building has damaged several parts of the protected building, a
violation to 1992 Law No. 5 on City Heritage, which carries a
maximum 10 years in jail or a Rp 100 million (US$14,285.7)
penalty.

The back part of the building was demolished to make way for
trucks transporting building materials for construction of a
four-story building.

Chief of the new building project Dez Rizal, who is also head
of the budget directorate's supplies division, could not be
reached for confirmation on Friday as he was still in Padang,
West Sumatra, according to his subordinate.

Member of the restoration team Arya Abieta said on Thursday
that the building owner had promised to stop the construction
work, but it continued as of Friday.

Head of program division of the museum and restoration agency
Indro Kusumo said that the building owner did not consult with
the administration when the construction project started last
year. (ida)