W

ith a recent infomercial raising public concerns about Indonesia's traditions being lost to other countries, a recent seminar has concluded that the responsibility for preserving cultural heritage lies with everybody, not just the government.

Tjejep Suparman, director general for cultural values, art, and film at the Culture and Tourism Ministry, said the government could not safeguard Indonesian customs and art forms on its own.

"Efforts to preserve items of cultural significant should be ongoing, and involve every level of society," he told the seminar held by the ministry.

Currently, the protection of intangible aspects of culture - oral traditions, theatrical arts and customary rituals - is overseen by a presidential decree issued in 2007. Ensuring control over these elements of culture is far more difficult than their tangible counterparts, such as artefacts and places of historical or natural significance.

Tjejep said the directorate general of intellectual property rights at the justice and human rights ministry was still drafting a bill to strengthen these measures.

Arief Rachman, spokesman for the Indonesian National Commission for UNESCO, said that globalization was leading toward the uniformity of culture.

"Preserving our intangible heritage could help people understand their identity in the era of globalization," he said.

"Indonesia, which has more than 700 languages and 300 ethnic groups, certainly cannot afford to lose sight of its roots."

Arief said several groups could assist in protecting Indonesia's traditions, including those who are employed to oversee cultural areas, such as museums and archive institutions, the media and business communities.

Sri Hartanto, from the Indonesian Arts Institute, said those people overseeing aspects of cultural preservation were crucial for authenticating or proving the originality of a product.

"If there is another country which claims ownership to that item, those people can prove they are the rightful owners of that tradition," she said. Gaura Mancacaritadipura, a cultural expert, said if Indonesia wanted more of its cultural heritage to be recognized internationally, it would have to prove it could be sustained and passed onto younger generations.

"A lack of community involvement is the main reason nominations *for international accreditation* fail," Gaura said.

International heritages lists recognize elements of culture that promote diversity, human creativity and mutual respect among nations. Currently, the wayang or leather puppet, the traditional dagger kris, and batik have been included on that list.

Museums and archive institutions play their obvious role in preservation by displaying cultural items and keeping an inventory of intangible heritage in their regions.

The media has the ability to reintroduce ideas of culture and remind people about their heritage.