I refer to the article titled "Bogor to issue buildings bylaw," (The Jakarta Post, June 26)
The real problem of preserving the "cultural and heritage" buildings depends not only on the issuance of bylaws. That's just one of the formal efforts that can be made to protect our heritage. I think we should take an in-depth look at the main reasons why people ignore the "sense of having" toward the old cultural and historical buildings in many places.
I have no doubt that people are willing to let the historical buildings stand as part of history. The problem is that the city government itself in some sense has no historical sensitivity. Quite often we find that the heritage buildings are neglected.
The root of the problem, which needs to be immediately improved, is the government's lack of conscience and will to make heritage buildings an important part of our society. If the government still has historical trauma regarding symbols of colonial heritage, the fate of historical and cultural buildings in the coming years will remain an illusion.
The Bogor City Government's plan to release the buildings bylaw is a good start, but it is not enough. The preservation of heritage buildings must be accompanied by not only incentive and land taxes, but include an holistic development plan which is relevant to the recent condition and development of society itself.
For me, the historical buildings are telling of our history and the development of Indonesian society. Historical buildings can say a lot about our past, if it weren't for our historical amnesia.
Siswasudarma
Yogyakarta
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