JAKARTA - Recently, a number of artists have been wrestling on the front page of Taman Ismail Marzuki (TIM), Cikini, Central Jakarta, every Friday afternoon. They are not in the arts, but rather staged an action against the construction of luxury hotels in the revitalization of the TIM.

Within the TIM area, revitalization is still ongoing. The TIM revitalization progress has entered into phase 2 construction, namely the revitalization of the Graha Bakti Budaya (GBB) building, which has begun demolition. The GBB building will be rebuilt with a modern and minimalist design.

Meanwhile, the construction of phase 1 which started earlier is still ongoing. The construction includes a parking building, the relocation of the Amir Hamzah Mosque, a library building, the HB Jassin Literary Documentation Center, public hallways, art galleries, dining areas, retail kiosks, and art guesthouses (hotels).

At first, this rejection was loudly voiced by several art activists in a discussion entitled "Where Do PKJ-TIM Will Be Taken?" which was held at the HB Jassin Documentation Center, TIM, on Wednesday, November 20, 2019. During the discussion, a number of art activists at TIM rejected the construction of a five-star hotel in the TIM area.

Members of the Forum for Artists Care for TIM (FSPTIM), Januarizal, think that the construction of luxury hotels is at odds with the preamble of the TIM as a center for creative arts and entertainment arts. This was stated in the Decree of former DKI Governor Ali Sadikin when inaugurating the TIM in 1968.

"We agree with the revitalization of the TIM, provided that it can make the artists more enthusiastic in the artistic process. But what we do not agree with is the construction of luxury hotels in the TIM environment," said Januarizal when contacted by VOI, Sunday, January 9.

Apart from that, Januarizal also refused to hand over the TIM management mandate after being revitalized to BUMD PT Jakarta Propertindo. This mandate was ratified by the Governor of DKI Regulation Number 63 of 2018.

"We refuse TIM management to JakPro for 28 years. At least, it should be left to an institution whose contents are people who are cultured and understand culture," he said.

Illustration of TIM revitalization (JakPro document)

In fact, the voices of artists' rejection of the construction of luxury hotels in TIM have already been heard by DPRD members. On November 27, 2019, dozens of artists who rejected the construction of the five-star hotel came to the DKI DPRD Building.

The artists had an audience with a number of members of the PDIP faction. In fact, there were representatives from Jakpro who also heard the reasons for the refusal of the artists. "During the hearing with the FPDIP DPRD, the Jakpro people only fought their tongues," he said.

However, Januarizal regretted that the DPRD only supported it verbally. In discussing the 2020 APBD draft, the DPRD only cut the Jakpro budget by Rp400 billion. Thus, the budget that JakPro gets for TIM revitalization is Rp. 200 billion, from the initial proposal of Rp. 600 billion.

"The DPRD only said it was supportive but there has been no action to prohibit the construction of luxury hotels," said Januarizal.

Januarizal emphasized that the artists who are members of the FSPTIM will continue to take action against the DKI Provincial Government. "Even though, it seems like we are facing a deaf wall (with the ranks of the DKI Provincial Government)," he concluded.


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