Sentani culture under threat

Sentani culture under threat

JAYAPURA, Irian Jaya: The culture of the Sentani tribe, one of
around 250 ethnic groups in the province, is on the brink
extinction due to the influx of people from other provinces, a
youth leader said Saturday.

Alfons Ongge, chairman of the local chapter of Pemuda
Pancasila -- a youth organization affiliated to the ruling
Golkar group -- called on the Sentani people to do everything
possible to save their culture.

He said many local traditional dances have been "modernized"
without the blessing of tribal leaders.

When people from other provinces began to arrive, the Sentanis
picked up bad habits once considered taboo in the past such as
stealing, Ongge said as quoted by Antara. (rms)