Prambanan for prayers

Prambanan for prayers

From Kompas

With reference to the letter sent by I Nyoman Mettayasa from Tabanan, Bali, regarding the permit for conducting prayers at the Prambanan temple in Yogyakarta, it should be noted that as the nation's cultural heritage, Prambanan is safeguarded by Law No.5/1992 on protected cultural sites. This law was promulgated on March 24, 1992 in the Statute Book of the Republic of Indonesia No.27/1992, so that everybody is assumed to be cognizant of it.

Law No.5/1992 and its technical provisions stipulate that protected cultural objects can be utilized for tourism purposes as well as religious, social, educational, scientific or cultural purposes. Such utilization is based on a permit issued by the minister (in charge of cultural affairs).

The conclusion is that Prambanan's utilization for religious worship is thus based on a permit. This provision should unnecessarily be placed in writing before the entrance of the temple, as I Nyoman Mettayasa wishes it to be, considering the assumption of public cognizance as soon as a law is promulgated in the statute book.

INDRA DEWA KUSUMA

Head of Working Group for Protection of Historical

and Archeological Relics

Yogyakarta