Preserve culture, don't 'fossilize' Betawi people
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)