Demolition of heritage sites raises concern

Apriadi Gunawan ,  The Jakarta Post ,  Medan   |  Mon, 11/09/2009 3:11 PM  |  The Archipelago

The demolition of several historic buildings by their owners in Medan, North Sumatra, sparked protest by local residents on Sunday.

The latest case was the Villa Kembar (Twin Villa) building on Jl. Diponegoro, which was demolished two weeks ago. The owner wanted to turn the historic building into a star-rated hotel.

Dozens of student activists, architects and representatives from seven community groups in the city slammed the demolition of Villa Kembar during Sunday's rally.

They criticized the city administration for allowing the owner to sell the historic building to a private developer.

However, the Medan administration lacked interest in buying Villa Kembar to protect it as required by the law.

Acting Medan Mayor Rahudman Harahap said he had informed the private owner of the building to stop the demolition, but his request was ignored. The demolition was also justified by an "expired permit" from authorities, he added.

Sumatra Heritage Body (BWS) secretary Rika Susanto said his institution would sue the owner in connection with the demolition, which she added was against the law on cultural heritage.

"We must not let such demolitions continue. Should we not take legal action against it, other private owners will demolish their historical buildings," Rika told The Jakarta Post during the rally.

She said the Medan administration had enacted a bylaw in 1988 to protect 42 historical buildings including those privately owned, while data shows there are some 600 old buildings registered across the city.

"We are tired of asking the Medan administration to increase the certification of historical buildings so they can be protected under the bylaw, but they have never responded.

"As a result, many owners are demolishing their own historic buildings," Rika said.

Researcher Eron Damanik, from the Center for Historical Studies and Social Sciences at the State University of Medan revealed that around 34 percent of 600 historical buildings in Medan had been flattened or converted for commercial use.

They include the Sukamulia prison on Jl. Palang Merah, which was built during the colonial era and was once used to detain the country's first president Sukarno. The demolished prison is now an apartment building.

Among other destroyed historical sites include the Mulo school building (the SMP Negeri 1 Medan elementary school), the Lindeteves Stokvis building (former Mega Eltra building), the Sipef building (former PT Tolan Tiga).

"All those historic buildings protected under the law were demolished, but the owners have not been penalized," said Eron who attended the protest rally.

Under the bylaw, those involved in destroying such buildings can be jailed for three months, and fined Rp 50,000, he added.

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