Deputy II of the Indonesian Presidential Chief of Staff, Abetnego Tarigan, said that his party would accelerate diplomatic efforts at the international level to ensure that the arts Reog Ponorogo crowned by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage (WBTB) belonging to Indonesia.
It is known, not only Indonesia, Malaysia is also currently planning to submit Reog art as a country’s culture to UNESCO.
“KSP also encourages the acceleration of cultural diplomacy at the world level, so that Reog can be immediately crowned by UNESCO as ours,” Abet said in his official statement quoted on Monday (11/4).
Abet said fighting for and ensuring that Reog was recognized by UNESCO as a manifestation of national identity and a form of cultural preservation. What’s more, it is protected by Law Number 5 of 2017 concerning the Advancement of Culture.
He also ensured that Reog Ponorogo was born and developed in Indonesia, becoming a priority step for the government.
“We (KSP) will coordinate with the Coordinating Ministry for Human Development and Culture to ensure that all administrative requirements to UNESCO have been met,” said Abet.
Reog Ponorogo art has been recognized as an intangible cultural heritage since 2013. During the 4 years running, the government has completed and perfected the requirements to be proposed to UNESCO.
The government has submitted the Reog Ponorogo art to UNESCO on February 18, 2022. This confirmation was conveyed by the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, Muhadjir Effendy, last Thursday (7/4).
Previously, Muhadjir also revealed that the Malaysian government plans to submit Reog art as its country’s culture to UNESCO. This made Reog artists in Ponorogo take to the streets. They demanded that the government immediately register Reog with UNESCO as an Indonesian cultural heritage.
(rzr/gil)
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