Comments: Heritage houses in Menteng

Fri, 02/13/2009 3:58 PM  |  Reader's Forum

Two old buildings, located near Jakarta Governor Fauzi Bowo's official residence in Menteng, Central Jakarta, are about to be torn down to allow for the construction of new buildings, says the city property control and supervision agency (P2B). An official with the agency, Pupung, said no. 42 and 44 on Jl Teuku Umar were heritage-listed buildings.

Your comments:
What about the municipal agencies and their personnel that violate national and local regulations regarding the preservation of cultural items?

Maybe those who issue the demolition and development permits could be jailed for up to 10 years or fined Rp 100 million (US$9,090)?

Teguh Utomo Atmoko

It states that the houses will be torn down, but then quotes officials who say it is not legal and that they have granted permission for the renovation of the houses, and goes on to explain the jail sentences and fines people get when they tear it down.

Chris H

Boycotting of new movie -- Feb. 7, p. 5

A senior cleric has called on Muslims to boycott a new film about Islam's treatment of women, saying it "slanders" the religion. The film, Perempuan Berkalung Sorban (Woman with a scarf around her neck), sullies the reputation of Islam, Ali Mustafa Yaqub, the lead cleric at Jakarta's main mosque, Istiqlal Grand Mosque, said, as reported by Agence France-Presse. Directed by Hanung Bramantyo, the film tells the story of a student, the daughter of a conservative cleric, who rebels against the limitations put on women at an Islamic boarding school in Java.

Your comments:
The film is set in Indonesia in the *80s in a rural pesantren (Islamic boarding school) with a very traditional Javanese outlook. The film is about a man who oppresses women by way of rules and traditions and how the ulema justify this using religious argument. The film is about how Islam is misinterpreted to discriminate against women. The film is not about Islam.

Miau Chang

Human rights and MUI's fatwa -- Feb. 6, p. 7

Let me offer a quote from the UN Declaration of Human Rights: "Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes the freedom to change religion or belief, and the freedom, either alone or in community with others, in public or private, to manifest one's religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

Your comments:
The simplest response is to ignore them! The MUI represents only its own ill-informed, self-serving views, nothing else.

If we all focus our minds, perhaps with the assistance of yoga or even cigarettes, maybe just maybe, we can make the MUI disappear for good!

Muhammad Santoso

I agree with you. We live in a plural society. The country was not established for only one religion or race. Indonesia declared its freedom, and attained independence with the support of many religions and races. So live and let live, as long as we care for others and take full responsibility for the environment.

Yul

A license to kill -- Feb. 5, p. 20

I refer to an article titled "Regions seek forest conversions" (The Jakarta Post, Feb. 2). How convenient it is for Forestry Minister Kaban, defender of illegal loggers, to blame others for wanting to cut down forests in Central Kalimantan.

Your comments:
Sean White (the author), your letter on Kaban's forestry is well put. Yes, we do need someone with a great sense of responsibility when it comes to preserving our flora and fauna. One single tree, when felled, will cause the death of many animals.

Tatu F Maulani
Jakarta

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