Preserve culture, don't 'fossilize' Betawi people
JAKARTA (JP): A city councilor urged the municipality yesterday to rethink its strategy for conservation of the Betawi (native Jakartans) culture.
Soeparmo, the head of Commission E for welfare affairs, was responding to the municipality's plan to construct several kampongs in a bid to maintain the Betawi culture.
Under the plan, a cultural hall and other related buildings would also be built at the site in Situ Babakan, Jagakarsa, South Jakarta.
Soeparmo told The Jakarta Post there were many ways to safeguard traditions and the municipality must decide the most effective method.
"What the municipality has to do now is to break down the aspects of Betawi culture and preserve them in a way that is useful for the present and the future.
"Many people still think that Betawi people must be protected. This is the wrong approach. What we have to cherish is their culture.
"And culturally speaking, the Betawi people cannot be considered an ethnic group. They don't fulfill the necessary criteria to be considered as such. So, what is there to preserve?
"Moreover they don't have their own language. They speak Bahasa Melayu with a Betawi dialect."
Their culture, in particular their theatrical, musical and literary artistry, has also been influenced by different ethnic groups and nations, he said.
"That is why all of their works are considered folk art and can't be classified as an ethnic style," he said.
"We have to admit that Betawi people do not have special features in their culture. And with the rapid development in Jakarta, the municipality has to be realistic in its preservation plan."
A spokeswoman for the Betawi Cultural Organization, which made the preservation proposal, Emma Agus Bisrie, said last week that Situ Babakan was chosen as the prospective site because it is considered an untouchable green area.
Tourist attractions
"We are planning to build new Betawi kampongs with artistic houses and a cultural hall in the area. In the long run, this is expected to become one of the city's tourist attractions," she said.
Governor Sutiyoso has also pledged to help protect and preserve Betawi culture, she said.
Soeparmo objected to the idea of constructing new Betawi kampongs in the city.
"That is crazy. The conservation is intended mainly for the culture itself, not for human beings. We can preserve physical artifacts but we cannot cage, for example, a group of people in a certain territory just because we want to maintain their existence," he said.
"We can't limit the dynamics of people's movements. Betawi people are not a kind of puppet show. If the municipality agreed to that idea, it's the same as having a living fossil.
"It's better for the municipality to build them a cultural hall and convention center so they can meet and run special events, but don't 'exile' them in some kampongs.
"I think if the idea transpires it will be an insult."
Soeparmo said a similar idea was proposed for the preservation of Betawi people living in Condet, East Jakarta.
"I strongly opposed the idea at that time. How could we give them free scope? People have to socialize," he said. "Condet people, for instance, can marry other people from different ethnic groups and backgrounds."
Condet has since been earmarked for the preservation of fruits, such as duku and salak, and is considered one of Jakarta's green conservation areas.
"I think the same concept can be implemented here. Give the Betawi people room to express themselves but don't 'exile' them in the name of preservation," he said. (07)