Javanese opera faces extinction

Javanese opera faces extinction

SEMARANG: President Soeharto called on the mayor yesterday to
save a traditional Javanese opera group, Ngesti Pandowo, which is
severely threatened by modern entertainment.

"The president considers the group a national cultural asset,"
said Purnomo, former chief of the presidential household
management, who carried the president's message to Semarang Mayor
Soetrisno Soeharto.

On receiving the message, Soetrisno said his administration
has donated Rp 500,000 to preserve the group and promised he
would donate more.

He said the donations would be allocated to construct a new
theater and to improve the entertainers' welfare.

"We won't let this group die, that's for sure. And I will call
on all parties, including businessmen, to be involved in
revitalizing it." he added. (har/08)