After being in `dispute` with the Switzerland-based New7Wonders Foundation for several months, Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik finally announced the decision on the withdrawal on Monday (Aug. 15, 2011).
"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 tried to convince the people that although the Komodo National Park (TNK), which is located in East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) Province, had pulled out as a finalist of the N7W, the TNK would remain the world`s heritage recognized by UNESCO in 1991.
"The world community would remain recognizing the Komodo as `the one and only real dragon in the world` and the fact is replaceable. In view of that we remain committed to developing and promoting TNK as a conservation area and international tourist destination in Indonesia. Through the `Komodo the Real Wonder of the World` brand, we will promote TNK across the world," Jero Wacik said.
In early February 2011, the New7Wonders Foundation on its official website stated that it removed the ministry of culture and tourism from its status as Official Supporting Committee for Komodo in the New7Wonders of Nature campaign, but voting of Komodo as one of the N7W finalists continued.
The Komodo National Park is currently in the seventh position of the 28 finalists in the N7W.
The ministry of tourism and culture had become the official supporting committee (OSC)/Lead Agency to support the TNK to be selected as one of the new world`s seven wonders which is done through on-line voting since 2008.
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.
However, in further progress a 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 N7W.
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 rejected the request because it was not realistic, and in a reaction to the rejection the N7W Foundation at the end of December 2010 threatened to eliminate TNK as the N7W finalist.
Minister Wacik said that the TNK`s position as a finalist was different from the N7W Foundation`s offer and must not be linked.
The decision was unilateral and unfair because it was not based on a clear reason while the N7W Foundation has not revoked the Standard Participating Agreement which is the only official document that has been signed jointly at the early stage of campaigning stating that the ministry of tourism and culture is the TNK`s OSC for the N7W campaign.
The ministry of tourism and culture has appointed lawyer Todung Mulya Lubis to deal with the problem. Todung said the ministry has never breached the Standard Participating Agreement that had been signed.
"We have sent a legal complaint which has been replied by their legal consultant in London. We have replied it again and until today there has been no response from them," he said.
He said the N7W Foundation`s action of removing the ministry as the OSC was against universal legal principles. "There has been no unilateral revocation of an agreement because no violation has been made here," he said.
The culture and tourism ministry`s director general of marketing, Sapta Nirwandar, said TNK as a N7W finalist has been promoted for the past three years abroad.
"TNK has been known by the world community and visits to the destination has increased sharply," he said.
In 2007 at the beginning of the campaign program the number of visitors to the destination was recorded at 16,000 and it rose to 21,000 in 2008m 36,000 in 2009 and 45,000 in 2010.
Minister Wacik`s decision, however, disappointed two NTT legislators and P2Komodo or Supporting Committee for Komodo Island, a social interest grouping led by Emmy Hafild, a renowned environmental campaigner.
Abraham Paul Liyanto, a local legislator, said in Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara Province, on Monday (Aug 15) that the culture and tourism minister should have calculated the losses and benefits of the withdrawal.
In fact, the culture and tourism minister himself once said the number of tourists had increased 400 percent, he added.
If the reason of the withdrawal was the high cost asked by the N7W foundation, the ministry should have first negotiated or looked for sponsorships to support the Komodo participation in the N7W contest, he said.
Abraham suggested that the NTT authorities, the community and NGOs take initiative to collect funds to help the ministry.
He also asked the minister to work full-heartedly in promoting Indonesia`s tourism, adding that the NTT tourism must also be developed, not only Bali.
Nelson Obet Matar, the deputy chairman of the Regional People`s Representatives Council, said in Kupang, Monday, the national and international fans of Komodo felt hurt because the government has to withdraw the Komodo National Park from the N7WN voting.
He called on people not to be affected by the government`s decision and continue giving their votes for the Komodo National Park.
Emmy Hafild of P2 Komodo in a press statement issued in Jakarta on Monday (Aug. 15) also regretted the ministry`s decision, and stated that the Komodo legitimation as one the New Seven Wonders was not determined by any government, but by voters throughout the world.
"Considering the positive impacts if Komodo Island is included in the list of New Seven Wonders for Indonesia in the world arena, for the economic development of local people, and for the preservation of Komodo dragon, we regret the decision on the withdrawal," Emmy, the chairperson of P2Komodo said.
P2Komodo will continue campaigning Komodo Island through short text message voting, she said.
According to Emmy, the competition is still credible and Indonesia should participate in it.
"Indonesia is a democratic country, so the government could not prevent the Indonesian people from giving votes to Komodo and making it one of the New7Wonders successfully," she said.
However, NTT Governor Frans Lebu Raya supported the ministry`s decision. "Indonesia`s decision to withdraw Komodo as a finalist of the New7Wonders of Nature is very positive because it will make people wonder," the governor said here on Tuesday.
When the N7WN organizer had decided to remove Komodo from the contestant list, the East Nusa Tenggara authorities and people were in fact happy because it would raise curiosity of people all over the world, Frans Lebu said.
"I am saying that if Komodo is removed, people will wonder and many more will come to NTT to see the giant lizard," he said, adding that therefore the decision must not be regretted.
The Komodo national park which covers Komodo, Rinca and Padar islands in West Manggarai district, East Nusa Tenggara, is home to the Komodo dragons (Varanus komodoensis).
Apart from Komodo dragon, NTT has some other tourist attractions such as three colour Lake Kelimutu in Ende, Maumere Bay marine park and another marine park on Kepa Isle in Alor District, which are considered among the best in the world.
(T.F001/HAJM)
Reporter: by Fardah
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
