Minister caught in treasure hunt controversy
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
State Minister of Culture and Tourism I Gede Ardika said on Monday the government would not pursue legal proceedings against those involved in the excavation of an ancient inscribed stone in Bogor, West Java.
"My staff said no harm had been done and the excavation site is quite far from the site of the stone, so there is no need to take legal proceedings," Ardika said, after a Cabinet meeting presided by President Megawati Soekarnoputri.
He was commenting on demands that Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Al Munawar be brought to justice for violating the law on the conservation of archeological sites.
Said has admitted he supervised the excavation, which was aimed at finding treasure from the Pajajaran Kingdom, and that he had received approval from Megawati.
Ardika said Said had contacted the historical heritage conservation agency before the excavation began.
"The next step now is to ensure the excavation does not affect or damage the historical site," Ardika said.
Said Agil, who also attended Monday's Cabinet meeting, was speechless on the matter.
Opposition to the treasure hunt came from legislators Effendi Choirie of the National Awakening Party (PKB) and Ferry Mursyidan Baldan of the Golkar Party.
"I urge Megawati to stop the hunt for treasure -- which I believe won't meet with success-- and start thinking seriously about how we can repay our foreign debts," Effendi told The Jakarta Post on Monday.
Sharing Effendi's view, Ferry suggested that the President "promote rational, and not irrational, ways of solving the country's problems."
The two legislators added that they would call on their respective factions at the House of Representatives to summons Said Agil to clarify about the treasure hunt he had initiated.
Said said earlier that he was told by a "wise man" where the treasure could be found.
He claimed that Megawati had approved the treasure hunt, and conceded that he was supervising the excavations in Bogor, near a stone inscription from the 16th century Pajajaran Kingdom.
He also said that when the situation allowed, he would continue the digging, which had been halted due to the uproar.
In Bogor, the local legislative council announced its opposition to a plan to resume excavating for whatever reasons.
Deputy speaker of the council Tatang Mochtar said the legislative body expected the excavation would meet opposition from the Sunda community who could turn violent.
"We are afraid the plan will only lead to unrest among local people," Tatang said.
Chairman of Commission E for People's Welfare Sony Sondiamon, joined opposition voices, saying the excavation required a permit from cultural leaders in the Sunda community, who had the legitimate mandate to preserve the heritage of King Siliwangi, the ancient ruler of the Pajajaran kingdom that covered most of modern-day West Java.
Tatang said the speaker of Bogor legislative council and his Bogor regency council counterpart would hold talks to arrange a joint move against the plan to continue the treasure dig.
In a statement, the Bandung Spirit cultural movement led by noted singer Acil Bimbo branded the excavation "a cultural crime" because it had insulted the pride of the Sunda community.
The local chapter of the Panca Marga youth organization has also joined the chorus of criticism. Youth group leader Helmi Sutikno, claimed to have readied thousands of activists to block any party wishing to continue the excavation.
"Whether it is legal or not, the treasure dig is a breach of the monotheism principle we share. We will deploy all of our West Java members to protect the inscription," Helmi said.
He reminded that the Sunda people had been hurt by the demolition of an inscribed stone in Badigul near Rancamaya to make way for a real estate and golf course project more than five years ago.