Interview with Indonesia's Minister of Culture and Tourism Self-Assesses the First 100 Day of His New Term of Office.
(2/6/2010) The January 31, 2010 edition of Bali Post carried an interview with Culture and Tourism Minister Jero Wacik in which he assessed the success of his work program for the first one-hundred days of his second ministerial term. What follows is balidiscovery.com's free translation of that interview.
What program were prioritized as part of your kinetic contract as a member of the 2nd United Indonesia Cabinet?
It is a requirement of law to create the the Renstra for the first 100 days. This book is compiled by accommodating public opinion as well as stakeholders. Also considered are the ideas of cultural experts, voices from the tourism industry and our accumulated experience. All these results are bundled up, all parties are invited and the process concludes with a coordinating meeting to assemble the Renstra.
After that, we hold hearings with Commission X of the House of Representatives (DPR-RI) which sees the book finished on the 75th day. The book is titled "Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Culture and Tourism 2010-2014." Inside is a complete plan covering what will be done through the end of term in 2014. What we want to do with culture, what we want to do with tourism and where we want to go. For example, growth rates (targets) are listed from year to year.
How about other kinetic contracts?
There is the additional requirement to prepare a study for the creation of an agency for the management of the world and national heritage sites, using the Borobudur temple as a pilot project. Step by step we have composed the book by inviting stakeholders' participation. In addition, we have also made a complete inventory of national and regional cultural creations.
In connection with cultural creations, what's been done?
Within 100 days, I have already recorded some 350 cultural creations. There are many examples in this context, such as traditional homes, traditional architecture, oral traditions, traditional foods, and more. The cultural creations have been registered in case that some time in the future someone or another country claims these creations we will have the necessary data.
How about the implementation of related programs in the kinetic contract?
We will soon launch two books with multiple chapters – "The History of Indonesian Culture" and "Indonesia in the Current of History." We are not yet able to launch as President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono wants to meet with the 75 historians involved in preparing the books. The introduction to these books by the President is being prepared. These books will become texts for school children and the entire Indonesian people. The President's guidance to the historians is to create an accurate record and not history as written by the victors. This will preserve the book for the future, regardless of who's in power.
The development of a historical complex the General Soedirman is a part of your working program. Can you explain?
Within the framework of commemorating the national service of General Soedirman, the government in the guise of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Armed Forces Historical Center and the Department of Public Works are building a General Soedirman Historical Center in the village of Pakis Baru, Nawangan, Pacitan Regency, East Java. Based on historical values and a desire to instill love of country in the younger generation, the government is revitalizing the complex. Soon President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono will inaugurate the complex.
What can we learn from reflecting on the struggles of General Soedirman?
The historical center is comprised of two main buildings. The main structure covers 14 hectares and includes copper base-reliefs depicting 38 episodes from Pak Dirman's life, dating from his birth until his death. There also also dioramas relating 18 episodes showing the revolutionary struggle that began on August 17, 1945. I inaugurated the reliefs on January 5, 2010. The work on the dioramas continue.
There is an audio-visual room, documentary films collection, a library and an 8-meter high statue of Pak Dirman. His headquarters is located 2 kilometer from the complex. Before he based himself at the village of Pakis Baru, Pak Dirman undertook a guerrilla journey from Yogyakarta through 8 regencies covering a distance of 1,000 kilometers. That is the reason I decided to build 8 gateways leading into the complex.
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