Based in Banten province, the Baduy people are known for their secluded, simple lifestyle and perseverance in upholding their traditional way of life.
"We have coordinated it and we are following up on the request conveyed by the community elder," Uno informed at the Weekly Brief with Sandi Uno press conference, which was followed via online means from here on Monday.
The minister also asked the general public to respect and respond wisely to the Baduy people's request, which might seem peculiar in the current Internet age.
The Baduy tourism village developed by the ministry is located in the Outer Baduy area, where the traditional custom is less strict than in the core area, also known as Inner Baduy, he explained.
Uno also clarified that the request to block Internet access conveyed by the Baduy elders would only affect the Inner Baduy area.
"We need to understand its difference because the tourism village we developed is located outside the core Baduy area. The Saba Baduy tourism village is what we are developing right now. The Internet connectivity is still difficult, yet there has been no particular request (to block the Internet there)," the minister said.
Earlier, elders of the Baduy people sent a letter, dated June 1, 2023, to the head of Banten's Lebak district, requesting the authority to block Internet access in their region.
"We hope the Baduy settlement will be free from Internet signal," Jaro Saija, a Badui elder and Kanekes village head, said.
He further said that though he understood the benefits of the Internet, the ease of Internet access could affect the Baduy people negatively.
"Our request to block the Internet signal is to ensure that the life of the Baduy people will not be corrupted by negative contents that have no educational value and are in conflict with our customs," Saija added.
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Translator: Sinta Ambarwati, Nabil Ihsan
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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