Kupang hosts cultural festival

Kupang hosts cultural festival

KUPANG, East Nusa Tenggara: In a bid to renew calls to
maintain national unity in diversity, the Directorate General of
Culture is holding an Indonesian Cultural Week here through Oct.
30.

"We want to make people see that culture can actually solve
the crisis facing our country. We want to remind people of the
pledge of unity this nation's founding fathers made a long time
ago," Director of History and Museums at the Ministry of National
Education, Anhar Gonggong, said.

The noted historian stated that politicians who lacked
cultural awareness had contributed to the current security
problems.

"Our politician have long forgotten their cultural values.
Power is divorced from cultural sensitivity and, because of this,
many people, even the politicians, resort to conflict and
violence in solving problems," Anhar said.

An archeological exhibition on pre-historic men and an
exhibition on rare East Nusa Tenggara textiles, competitions on
telling folklore, drawing competitions for children, an
Indonesian food festival, and music, film and drama events are
the highlights of the week-long festival. (edt)