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Bogor: After leading a meeting on earthquake mitigation, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono also leading a limited meeting on batik as world heritage in Bogor Palace, Monday afternoon (7/9). “We reported the enactment of Indonesian batik as world cultural heritage. Indonesian batik becomes a representation of human inheritance immaterial culture,” said Coordinating Minister for People’s Welfare, Aburizal Bakrie.
Previously, Aburizal explained the definitions of material cultural heritage and immaterial cultural heritage. “Material cultural heritage consists of monument, temple, natural scenery, and so forth. Meanwhile, immaterial or popular culture is called live culture, according to UNESCO comprises of oral culture, story including language, stage art, dance, wayang, people custom, traditional handicraft, and every material related to nature,” explained Aburizal.
“Batik is considered nation cultural icon which has uniqueness, simbolism, and deep philosophy tells human life cycle proposed by Indonesia as immaterial cultural heritage of humanity. I emphasized the word ‘humanity’ because this is not only related to Indonesia as the origin of batik but also as an immaterial cultural representation of humanity,” Aburizal Bakrie explained.
Indonesian people consider batik as traditional cloth rich of cultural value and as one of inherited traditional handicraft. In concluding the assessment toward batik, UNESCO asked several questions such as whether batik is traditionally originated from Indonesia, whether the Government provides protection on batik, and whether the Government conducts safeguarding steps toward batik. Therefore, the Government composed books and education guidances about batik distributed to schools.
UNESCO also asked whether Indonesia possesses batik community, industry, users, culture, and history. “Based on that, thank God, alhamdulillah, batik has been approved as human immaterial cultural heritage by UNESCO. Insya Allah, God willing, the authentication will be conducted on September 28th to October 2nd in Abu Dhabi. We have been informed that batik has been recognized as world heritage originated by Indonesian nation,” said Aburizal.
President SBY requested all Indonesian people to wear batik on October 2nd, 2009 to appreciate batik. President inquired batik protection. Minister of Culture and Tourism have also guaranteed that batik will be continuously safeguarded as Indonesian culture,” he added.
Meanwhile, Minister of Culture and Tourism informed further that the Government will persistently struggle for the acknowledgement of every national cultural work. “ In 2003, UNESCO has recognized wayang as immaterial cultural heritage. We have received the certification. Afterward, keris has also become world cultural heritage from Indonesia. The next registered cultural work is angklung,” confirmed Jero Wacik.
Indonesian text source:
http://www.presidensby.info/index.php/fokus/2009/09/07/4626.html
As published on website www.indonesia.go.id
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