Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik, when announcing the decision here on Monday, accused the competition`s organizer, the New 7 Wonders (N7W) Foundation, of having been unprofessional, inconsistent and not transparent.
"The decision was taken because the organizer, the New 7 Wonders (N7W) Foundation, has been unprofessional, inconsistent, not transparent and lacking accountable credibility," he said.
He said although the Komodo National Park (TNK) had resigned from campaigning to be selected as one of the world`s seven wonders by the N7W the TNK would remain the world`s heritage recognized by UNESCO in 1991.
In August 2008, the ministry of tourism and culture became the official supporting committee (OSC)/Lead Agency to suppor the TNK to be selected as one of the new world`s seven wonders which is done through on-line voting.
The ministry has already carried out a series of on-line campaigning at home and abroad to promote and support the TNK in the competition and the effort has been fruitful with the TNK`s election as one of the 28 finalists of the N7WN title putting aside 440 nominees from 220 countries.
In a further progress polemic emerged after the N7W Foundation expressed agreement early in December 2010 for Indonesia in this case Jakarta to become the official host for the Declaration of the new World 7 Wonders.
The committee however later required the Indonesian government to pay a license fee for being the host of the event totalling US$10 million and prepare another US$35 million to pay for the cost of the organization of the event.
The ministry meanwhile has so far only expressed its desire to be the host and has never signed any deal nor submitted an official bidding proposal as required by the N7W Foundation according to the New7Wonders Official Host Worldwide Bidding Tender.
The ministry had rejected the request because it was not realistic but in a reaction to the rejection the N7W at the end of December 2010 threatened to eliminate TNK as the N7W finalist.(*)
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Editor: Jafar M Sidik
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
