Writer's collection of paintings stolen

JAKARTA (JP): Burglars broke into the house of a man of letters, Ajip Rosidi, on Jl. Rawa Bambu, Pasar Minggu, South Jakarta, and made off with five paintings worth hundreds of millions of rupiah.

The writer's daughter, Titis, told The Jakarta Post yesterday that the paintings were stolen on Oct. 2.

The stolen paintings are Potret Pemuda, measuring 56 x 72 cm, by Affandi, 1951, Pohon Tua di Pantai, 95 x 148 cm, by Hendra Gunawan, Kota, 94 x 75 cm, by Salim, Orang-Orang Lalu, 154 x 80 cm, by S. Sudjojono, Penggali Kuburan dan Talkin, 100 x 80 cm, by Basuki Resobowo.

"All the paintings were cut out of their frames. The thieves must have prepared the theft. We assume they observed our house beforehand," Titis said. Ajip, who teaches at the Osaka University of Foreign Studies, was quoted by her daughter as saying that the theft of the precious art works was "uncivilized."

She also said that there must have been at least two to three people involved. "We found another painting by Hendra Gunawan, measuring around 300 x 200 cm, in the front yard of our house. The painting was evidently too heavy for two men to carry from inside the house to the yard," she said.

The stealing took place around 3:00 a.m on Oct. 2, when there were seven people in the house. "My sister woke up when she heard "something strange." The thieves escaped upon hearing my sister open her bedroom door. They then left the large painting in the yard," she said.

She said official reports were made to the Pasar Minggu police. South Jakarta police precinct could not be reached for confirmation yesterday. (sur)