Treasure hunt reflects govt desperation: Sociologists

Moch. N. Kurniawan, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A recent government move to hunt for ancient treasure in Bogor, West Java, demonstrates its absolute inability to resolve the country's complex crises, experts said on Sunday.

Sociologists Ignas Kleden and Imam B. Prasodjo said the government appeared to have no reasonable measures for leading the country out of the prolonged economic crisis.

"The government has become desperate and irrational in managing the country. Do you think the treasure will suddenly cure the problems of corruption, collusion and the mismanagement of our huge debts?" Ignas told The Jakarta Post.

"Our government is out of its mind. The treasure hunt is a gamble, it's pure speculation," Imam told the Post separately.

According to Ignas, the government should focus on creating good governance to resolve the country's problems rather than searching for ancient treasure.

Minister of Religious Affairs Said Agil Al Munawar said earlier that he was supervising a treasure dig in Bogor, near a stone inscription from the 16th century Pajajaran Kingdom.

The treasure, if discovered, could repay the country's ballooning foreign debt, he said.

The government is burdened with domestic and foreign debts of US$130 billion.

The repayment of these enormous debts has hindered government efforts to stimulate the economy, such as increasing expenditures.

Said said earlier he was told by a "wise man" where the treasure could be found.

President Megawati Soekarnoputri approved of the treasure hunt, he added.

But the excavation has sparked protests by various heritage groups, who say the dig has damaged the ancient stone inscription.

The inscription, dating back to the son of King Siliwangi, Prabu Surawisase, in 1533, is currently housed inside a building that is part of the Batutulis Museum.

The hunt, which began on Aug. 14, has yet to turn up any treasure.

Ignas said there was nothing inherently wrong with the government tracking down the country's ancient treasures, but just not out of the misguided notion that it would resolve the country's economic woes.

Imam said he wondered how much money was being spent by the government for this treasure hunt.

"We shouldn't allow the government to use huge amounts of money for such a speculative hunt," he said.

Even if the treasure hunt is successful, it could have negative social impacts, encouraging people to give up their jobs to search for buried treasure, Imam added.

In another treasure-related story, a foundation claims to have trillions of rupiah, which it has deposited in local and overseas banks, that dates back to the country's past kingdoms: Sriwijaya, Blambangan, Majapahit, Bali, Kediri and Padjajaran.

The Foundation for the Islamic Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah Mission (Yamisa), has promised to distribute the money to people in several different provinces.

However, people must pay the foundation Rp 15,000 before they can receive Rp 5 million per month from the trillions of rupiah Yamisa claims to have in the bank.