Planned heritage site hotel protested

The Jakarta Post, Blontank Poer, Surakarta | Fri, 11/07/2008

Plans to build a hotel in the historical Vastenburg Fortress in Surakarta are facing protest from artists and cultural experts, who claim the proposed construction has the potential to damage the heritage site. 

"It would be better if the municipal administration and the investors reviewed the plan before causing any potential damage to the city," Chairman of Surakarta's Arts Council Murtidjono said. 

Speaking at the Surakarta mayor's residence Monday evening, Murtidjono said the review was urgent because Surakarta recently pioneered the establishment of the Indonesian Heritage Cities Network (JKPI). 

The Surakarta mayor along with investors, environment experts (Amdal) and representatives from Central Java's conservation center took part in the discussions. 

Mayor Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said the matter put his administration in a dilemma. He said he personally thought it was deplorable that the city's heritage sites and buildings were vanishing. 

"Under normal circumstances, I would have to issue the license to the hotel investors because all the requirements have been fulfilled," Jokowi said. 

These requirements include an overview by Amdal, an examination of the appropriateness of the planned hotel and a letter of recommendation from the conservation center. 

"If I refuse to issue the license, the investors will sue me," Jokowi said. 

Murtidjono said Amdal lacked objectivity and transparency. 

"The Amdal team has based its analysis mainly on the economic considerations and failed to acknowledge the archaeological analysis," he said. 

Located between the colonial administration office (now the city hall) and the Surakarta Palace, Vastenburg Fortress was built in 1750 by Dutch colonizers. 

The fortress was a surveillance post used to monitor the movement of palace troops, who the colonial administration feared were capable of rebellion. 

The investor, Robby Sumampouw, argued the construction would not damage the main walls and structure of the building. 

"We will not flatten the walls. We will build the hotel inside them," Robby, also owner of the Hailai entertainment center in Jakarta, told The Jakarta Post. 

He said he would build a nine-story boutique hotel on the site, equipped with a convention hall and luxurious shopping center. 

He said colonial-style architecture would be adopted for the Rp 300 billion project, which will begin construction by the end of the year.