TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - West Java Cultural Alliance rejected the night tour program, dubbed the GLOW, at the Bogor Botanical Gardens which is managed by a private party PT Mitra Natura Raya. The alliance member Lutfi Suyudi demanded the garden’s management, PT MRN, the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), and the local government, immediately close the Glow educational tour.

Lufti explained the botanical garden is not only a home for plants and animals but also a center for Sundanese culture since the Pakuan Pajajaran era which cannot be neglected due to the opening of the light show.

The alliance, he said, conveyed seven points of request, namely asking Bogor Mayor, PT. MRN and BRIN to comply with the Cultural Heritage Law No. 10 of 2011, respecting the garden as the heritage of the city as mandated in the Mayoral Regulation or Perwali No. 17 of 2015, and asking the Bogor administration to immediately form a heritage city team as noted in Perwali 17/2015 with the mayor as the responsible person and involving traditional, cultural, and community figures.

“Even though visitors don't visit the ancestral graves, this cultural heritage is one package. We feel disturbed, especially since there is no coordination with cultural experts regarding the study on Glow. We’ve just been informed recently,” Lutfi claimed.

Bogor Deputy Mayor Dedie A Rachim acknowledged that the cultural practitioners wanted to be involved in the management committee of the Bogor Botanical Gardens. Dedie said the city administration would thus act as the bridge to the GLOW program’s management.

Read: Bogor Botanical Gardens to Present Special Night Tour GLOW

ANTARA