Killing our culture

Killing our culture

From Forum Keadilan

For us, the Sundanese, the historical site of Batutulis is not
just a place where there is a slab of stone. It is history, part
of our own identity.

We are really disappointed to learn from the media that
excavations to find treasure had been conducted at this site.
This effort, as reported in Kompas on Aug. 16, has caused damage
to this area.

We are all the more disappointed because this treasure hunting
has, more or less, been "sponsored" by Minister of Religious
Affairs H. Said Agil Husin Al Munawar, especially when he said,
as reported by Trans TV, that he had got a permit from the
president.

In the last decade the government of the Republic of Indonesia
helped destroy the Rancamaya historical site. Now that the
Batutulis historical site has been tampered with, it is only
natural that we, the Sundanese, interpret it as a systematic
attempt to eliminate the identity of the Sundanese. Therefore, we
are now lodging the strongest protest possible.

MAMAN GANTRA

Jakarta