Cultural properties of Indonesia are those items defined by Indonesian law as of "important value for history, science, and culture", and include both man-made artefacts and natural objects. The cultural properties number more than 8,000 and include ancient

Hindu Hindus (; ) are people who religiously adhere to Hinduism. Jeffery D. Long (2007), A Vision for Hinduism, IB Tauris, , pages 35–37 Historically, the term has also been used as a geographical, cultural, and later religious identifier for ...

and Buddhism, Buddhist Candi of Indonesia, temples, List of mosques in Indonesia, mosques, Colonial architecture of Indonesia, historic colonial buildings, List of forts#Indonesia, forts, art galleries, List of national parks of Indonesia, national parks and beaches. A number of the sites are World Heritage Sites. The current regime for the protection and promotion of the cultural properties of Indonesia ( id, benda cagar budaya) is governed by the Act of the Republic of Indonesia No. 5, 1992, concerning Items of Cultural Property. Such measures are to be understood against the background of Section 32 of the Constitution of Indonesia, 1945 Constitution, according to which "The Government develops the National Culture of Indonesia". Regulation no. 10 of 1993 prescribes the registration of items of cultural property, which is to be undertaken by the relevant Provinces of Indonesia, second level administrative area. As of 2008, some 8,232 immovable cultural properties and heritage sites have been identified, the last being those places in which items of cultural property are contained.

Legal basis

Cultural properties in Indonesia have been protected since at least 1931, when the colonial government of the Dutch East Indies passed Ordinance Number 19 of 1931 regarding Monuments, which was later amended with another ordinance in 1934. Since 1992, cultural properties have been protected under Act of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5 of 1992 regarding Cultural Properties (), which was passed by President Suharto on 21 March. This new law was passed as the old, colonial laws were considered no longer applicable. Article I of the act defines a cultural property as of "important value for history, science, and culture", being either a man-made object or group of objects, movable (''bergerak'') or immovable (''tidak bergerak''), aged at least fifty years which has or have high historical value,; or natural objects with high historical value. Said objects, under Articles IV and V, generally belong to and are under the domain of the Government of Indonesia, national government. However, Article VI allows private ownership under certain conditions. The act then goes on to regulate the search for and discovery of historical objects, as well as their keeping and maintenance. Under Chapter VII of the act, there are several criminal offences related to cultural properties. The intentional damage, theft, relocation, and/or disfigurement of cultural properties, under Article XXVI, is a felony offence punishable by up to ten years in prison and/or a maximum fine of Indonesian Rupiah, Rp. 100 million (US$ 10,500). Illegal searches for cultural properties, under Article XVII, is a felony offence which can be punished by up to five years in prison and/or a Rp. 50 million (US$ 5,250) fine. Persons who neglect to maintain cultural objects, as required in Article 10 subsection 1, face a criminal misdemanour charge carrying a maximum of one year in prison and a Indonesian Rupiah, Rp. 10 million (US$ 1,050) fine. Indonesia's cultural properties are managed and studied by their respective provincial authorities known as ''Balai Pelestarian Cagar Budaya'' (BPCB). The BPCB does not have an official English translation, and usually remains untranslated when referred to in documents in other languages. Nevertheless, BPCB means "Centre for the Conservation of Cultural Properties."

Objects

As of 2008, some 8,232 immovable cultural properties and heritage sites have been identified, the last being those places in which items considered cultural properties are contained. Several examples follow below:

* Borobudur, Borobudur Temple (, in Magelang, Central Java * Bosscha District (), in Lembang, West Java * Jakarta Cathedral, Cathedral Church (), in Jakarta * Demak Great Mosque (), in Demak, Indonesia, Demak, Central Java * Gedung Kesenian Jakarta, Jakarta Art Building (), in Jakarta * Haji Usmar Ismail Cinema Building (), in Jakarta * Menara Kudus Mosque, Kudus Mosque (), in Kudus, Kudus, Kudus, Central Java * Kuta, Kuta Beach District (), in Badung, Bali * Taman Ismail Marzuki, Ismail Marzuki Cultural Centre (), in Jakarta * Istiqlal Mosque, Jakarta, Istiqlal Mosque (), in Jakarta * National Gallery of Indonesia (), in Jakarta * National Monument (Indonesia), National Monument (), in Jakarta * National Press Monument (), in Surakarta * National Museum of Indonesia, National Museum (), in Jakarta * Nusa Dua, Nusa Dua Tourist District (), in Nusa Dua, Bali * Oranje Fortress (), in Ternate, North Maluku * Prambanan, Prambanan Temple Complex (), in Klaten, Central Java * Sam Poo Kong, Sam Poo Kong Temple (''Kelenteng Sam Poo Kong''), in Semarang, Central Java * Fort Rotterdam (), in Makassar, South Sulawesi * Sumbawa King's Palace (), in Sumbawa, West Nusa Tenggara * Muhammadan Mosque (''Masjid Muhammadan''), in Padang, West Sumatra * Maimun Palace (''Istana Maimun''), in Medan, North Sumatra * Tjong A Fie Mansion (''Rumah Tjong A Fie''), in Medan, North Sumatra * Sri Mariamman Temple, Medan, Sri Mariamman Temple (''Kuil Sri Mariamman''), in Medan, North SumatraA Hindu Temple in Indonesia * Siak Sri Indrapura Palace (''Istana Siak Sri Indrapura''), in Siak Regency, Siak, Riau

References

{{Indonesia topics Cultural Properties of Indonesia, Historic sites in Indonesia Indonesian culture Law of Indonesia Landmarks in Indonesia

Legal basis

Objects

See also

References