Director of Heritage and Cultural Diplomacy of the Indonesia`s Ministry of Education and Culture, Najamudin Ramli, stated during a media gathering in Jakarta on Monday that Indonesia needs to complete the existing requirements, so that the cultural properties can be endorsed by UNESCO.
Among Indonesian cultural properties in the UNESCO`s temporary list, the area of Kota Tua, Onrust Island, Kelor Island, Cipir Island, and Bidadari Island must be reviewed due to some constraints, including conservation of buildings in the Kota Tua area.
Since 2015, area of Kota Tua and the islands are proposed to be inherited, as those areas had become the trade routes of Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC).
"In the Kota Tua area, only two percent of the total buildings are owned by Jakarta provincial government, while the rest of the buildings are owned by state-owned companies, private companies and individuals, making the area difficult to conserve," Ramli remarked.
Meanwhile, Jakarta bay reclamation could reach the point of tangency of Onrust Island, and so it could obscure the trade routes of VOC.
"If you want the area of Kota Tua to be recognized by the UNESCO, the authenticity of the relic should be maintained. If there is reclamation, the original shape could be threatened," he revealed.
Head of the World History Department of the Indonesia`s Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture, Dohado Pakpahan, explained that the recognition of Indonesian cultural sites as a world heritage will become a pride for the Indonesian nation.
Indonesia currently has 17 culture properties recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage. It includes four natural resources, four cultural properties, and nine objects of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
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Reporter: Aubrey Kandelila Fanani
Editor: Andi Abdussalam
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