Restoration team goes home empty handed
Restoration team goes home empty handed
JAKARTA (JP): The legal controversy over the construction
project on the site of the former Supreme Court building on Jl.
Lapangan Banteng Timur in Central Jakarta remained uncertain as
the city's team from the restoration council failed to meet the
project owner on Thursday.
The team, led by chairman Wisnu Murti Ardjo, visited the site
where a four-story building is being constructed, to question the
validity of the demolition of the former Supreme Court building
and the construction of the multi-story building.
The team had planned to meet directors of the Finance
Ministry's Budget Directorate and the project developer PT
Pembangunan Perumahan, but a company administration staffer,
identified only as Adi, was the only representative there to give
an explanation.
The team members, accompanied by activists of a non-government
organization (NGO) concerned with city heritage, were left to
open a discussion among themselves and inspect the area for
nearly two hours before returning to their offices.
"It's not a big deal if they don't want to meet with us. The
building is the most important thing, not the owner," Wisnu said.
He remained silent when asked whether the team would recommend
legal action against the ministry, which has violated the 1992
Law No. 5 on the Heritage. The law carries a maximum 10 years
imprisonment or Rp 100 million (US$14,285.7) penalty.
The team's deputy chairman Noersaijidi M. Koesoemo, however,
negated the possibility, saying that they might propose an
out-of-court settlement.
"I think we'll only oblige the owner to restore the old
building's original shape and its demolished parts," he said.
The construction of the four-story building at the rear of the
172-year-old former Supreme Court building is controversial
because not only has the new construction resulted in the
demolition of the back part of the heritage building, but the
construction also has been carried out without any building
construction permit (IMB).
Grace Pamungkas, an activist of the NGO, voiced her
disappointment over the team's fruitless visit.
"I didn't see the team members collecting historical data or
photos of the building. How can they argue with the owner?" she
asked.
Grace said she was pessimistic the team could do anything to
save the city heritages from destruction. "I really doubt their
concern."
Interviewed separately before the visit, ministry spokesman
Wardi admitted that there were damages at the back of the old
building, "The (the damages) were not done on purpose, we'll fix
them later".
Wardi, however, declined to confirm the demolition act as
breaching the law, saying that he did not precisely know the
details.
On the absence of the IMB for the new construction, Wardi said
it had been common practice here for construction of government
buildings to continue despite the absence of an official building
permit from the city administration.
The administration itself has declared the construction of the
new building as illegal and has instructed the owner to halt the
project. But the activity continued as of Thursday.
Adi dismissed the possibility of halting the construction
activities, saying that the company would then bear a Rp 4
billion penalty if they did not meet the deadline of March 5.
"The construction is financed by the state budget with a tight
schedule," he said, while informing that the project value was Rp
11 billion. (ind)