Three colonial fortresses discovered in Enggano

Antara News, Monday, May 31, 2010 03:17 WIB

Bengkulu (ANTARA news) - Some Enggano islanders, North Bengkulu, discovered the remains of three colonial buildings in two villages.

One of Enggano`s cultural leaders, Basri, said that the sites located at Malakoni and Apoho hamlets, may also have been the remains of what the Dutch, Japanese and British had left.

The local residents had discovered the fortress-like building several years ago with some of its parts damaged by sea water erosion.

At first they were not aware that the remains had a high historical value, until the arrival of a military team which kept building in tact.

Bengkulu military chief Col Putut Winarno said the objects are now being studied by historians of the special team.

The historical forts can become the island`s tourism attraction and needs to be preserved by the government.

Malakoni hamlet chief Tedy Sunardi said that the fortress may have been what was left of the colonial era.

The remote island of Enggano may have been a place where foreign ships made stopovers.