Javanese Language Congress lures foreigners

Javanese Language Congress lures foreigners

YOGYAKARTA (JP): The United Kingdom, the United States, Japan,
the Netherlands, Suriname and Malaysia are represented at the
third Javanese Language Congress being held at the Ambarrukmo
Palace Hotel from July 16 to July 21.

The six foreign participants are among the 700 people taking
part in the congress.

The number of participants is almost twice as many as the
organizing committee had been expecting.

"It's indeed very surprising. Until five days ago, there were
only some 150 participants registered," said Ali Subchi, a member
of the congress' organizing committee. He added that the
committee had expected only some 400 participants.

Ali said the committee was working hard to accommodate the
participants, and as of Monday evening there were still dozens of
people arriving to register.

"Most of them came from outside the city. We are just trying
hard to look for other hotels to accommodate them, as the
Ambarrukmo is already fully booked," said Ali, adding that the
committee was doing its best so it would not have to turn away
anyone hoping to register for the congress.

Speaking at the congress, Minister of National Education Yahya
A. Muhaimin said the Javanese language, like many other local
languages in the country, had contributed a great deal to the
development of Bahasa Indonesia, the official language of the
country.

Yahya also said the government had the obligation to preserve
local languages to maintain and preserve the different cultures
of the nation.

President Abdurrahman Wahid opened the congress on Sunday
evening in a ceremony held in the compound of the Yogyakarta
Palace. (23)