Deputy II of the Presidential Staff Office, Abetnego Tarigan, emphasized that the effort to ensure the art of Reog Ponorogo, which originated and developed in Indonesia, is recognized as the nation’s intangible cultural heritage is the government's priority.
"We (KSP) will coordinate with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture to ensure that the administrative requirements (of proposing Reog Ponorogo as an intangible cultural heritage) to UNESCO are met," Tarigan said in a press release here on Saturday.
Fighting for getting the nation's intangible cultural heritage recognized by the world through UNESCO is a manifestation of strengthening the nation's identity and a form of cultural preservation, he added.
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According to him, it is protected by Law No. 5 of 2017 on cultural advancement.
"On that basis, KSP also encourages the acceleration of cultural diplomacy at the world level, so that Reog can be immediately named by UNESCO as ours," Tarigan said.
The government had proposed Reog Ponorogo art to UNESCO as Indonesia's intangible cultural heritage on February 18, 2022. The information regarding the submission was conveyed by Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, on Thursday (April 7, 2022).
Earlier, the Malaysian government had planned to submit Reog art as its cultural heritage to UNESCO, Effendy pointed out.
This had led to Reog artists in Ponorogo, East Java, mounting a protest on the streets and demanding that the Indonesian government immediately register Reog as Indonesia's cultural heritage.
Reog Ponorogo art has historical value in Indonesia and has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage since 2013. Over the course of four years, the government has completed and perfected its proposal to UNESCO.
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Translator: Rangga J, Kenzu T
Editor: Suharto
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