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Semarang told to protect sanctinity of temple

Heritage groups in Semarang regency, Central Java, have called on the local administration to restore the function of Ngempon Temple in Ngempon subdistrict, Bergas district, as the surrounding area had been turned into an illegal entertainment center in the past few years

Ainur Rohmah (The Jakarta Post)
Semarang
Thu, June 5, 2014 Published on Jun. 5, 2014 Published on 2014-06-05T09:44:16+07:00

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H

eritage groups in Semarang regency, Central Java, have called on the local administration to restore the function of Ngempon Temple in Ngempon subdistrict, Bergas district, as the surrounding area had been turned into an illegal entertainment center in the past few years.

The call was made by two heritage groups, the Ratu Sima Cultural Heritage Care Association (PPCBRS) and the Central Java Universe and Cultural Heritage Care Association.

PPCBRS chairman Sutikno said that a number of illegal karaoke and pool venues had been erected close to the temple, which is also used by young people as a nighttime hangout.

Sutikno expressed his fear that if nothing was done, the site would become a new center for prostitution in the regency, which is already home to three red-light districts: Bandungan, Gembol and Tegal Panas.

'€œWe have directly observed the place and found many law violations going on there,'€ Sutikno said over the phone recently.

Local Hindu communities, he went on, had also expressed their concerns over the situation, as they still used the temple for religious activities.

Sutikno said his organization had visited the regency'€™s Education and Culture Agency to file a complaint. He expressed his hope that the regency administration would restore the function of the temple for religious and educational activities.

One local resident, Hidayat, said that the site comprised four mid-sized temples and a hot spring named Petirtaan Derekan, which date back to an ancient Hindu kingdom.

Tourists have been visiting the temple since it was first discovered in 1952 by a local farmer named Kasri. It was named Ngempon because of its location in Ngempon subdistrict.

In the past, the hot spring was reportedly used by Hindus to wash themselves before performing religious activities at the temple. The hot spring has now been turned into a public bathing place, whose waters are believed to have healing powers.

As time went by, however, karaoke centers were established around the site, turning the area into a hangout, especially for members of the transgender community.

'€œLocals actually feel disturbed by the presence [of the transgenders] but they cannot prevent them [from hanging around the area] because that is the job of the local administration,'€ Hidayat said.

Yohanes Galih of the Central Java Universe and Cultural Heritage Care Association said that a number of sculptures at the temple had gone missing, while several parts of the temple had been changed, tarnishing the heritage of the site.

'€œA concrete pillar, for instance, has been built at the bathing place. This has changed the condition of the heritage site and is a violation against the law,'€ Yohanes said.

Meanwhile, The Hok Hiong, chairman of Semarang Legislative Council'€™s (DPRD) Commission D, which is considering the matter, said that additions to the temple that were not original would have to be demolished.

He blamed officials at the regency'€™s Public Order Agency (Satpol PP) for not acting against the violations. This, he went on, could lead to other violations, such as the spread of prostitution in the region.

Separately, the head of the Education and Culture Agency'€™s cultural division, Herowo Sudjendro, said that his office would team up with relevant institutions to preserve the temple.

He also said the additional buildings would be demolished, thus returning the temple to its original form.

'€œWe will continue to monitor it together with Semarang'€™s Cultural Heritage Preservation Center [BPCB],'€ Herowo said.

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