Indonesia Drafts Law to Protect Bali

TheIndonesia.id - Minister of Home Affairs Muhammad Tito Karnavian said the government and the House of Representatives were fighting for an article that regulates the recognition of Balinese local wisdom namely culture, tradition, and art in the Bali Provincial Bill.

"So whatever national policy is, everything is protected. Bali with its culture, arts, and traditions will not be eroded," he said while delivering his remarks at the inaugural performance of the 44th Bali Arts Festival in Denpasar, Sunday night, June 12, 2022.

He said that President Joko Widodo had appointed himself as the Minister of Home Affairs to be the government's representative in the discussion of the Bali Province Bill with the House of Representatives. According to him, each province should be regulated by one law because the province of Bali is still regulated by Law no. 64 of 1958 concerning the Establishment of Level I Regions in Bali, West Nusa Tenggara, and East Nusa Tenggara.

"We are fighting for one article, namely the article to recognize the characteristics of 'local wisdom' of local Balinese policies, namely culture, tradition, and art," he said at the event which was attended by thousands of Balinese who filled the Ardha Candra Open Stage, Cultural Park, Denpasar.

With this recognition, Balinese local wisdom is not easily eroded by modernization and central government policies that may not be friendly to the traditions, culture, and arts of the local community. "Bali's main wealth is not in nature, but in its extraordinary cultural arts, which are constantly being regenerated," said the former National Police Chief.

Therefore, Karnavian also encouraged the Governor of Bali and the regents/mayors to also create a legal basis platform, in the form of regional regulations or governor's as well as regents/mayors' regulations so that Balinese arts and culture must be preserved. Thus, the program and its budget have been stated in the APBD, so those cultural and artistic activists will be protected, and Balinese cultural arts will continue.

The Governor of Bali Wayan Koster said that the current development of Bali is indeed making culture upstream.

Regarding the Bali Arts Festival which will take place from June 12 to July 10, 2022, the theme is "Danu Kerthi: Huluning Amreta" which is interpreted as the glorification of water as a source of life. The theme is implemented in every art activity of the Bali Arts Festival, which includes Peed Aya (Paradise), Rekasadana (Performance), Wimbakara (Competition), Kandarupa (Exhibition), Kriyaloka (Workshop), Widyatula (Sarasehan), and Adi Sewaka Nugraha (Art Servant Award).

This time, the Bali Arts Festival was accompanied by the Bali Bangkit Small and Medium Industry Exhibition (IKM) which was coordinated by the People's Arts Council of Bali Province. The holding of the Bali Arts Festival in 2022 will also become even more special because it coincides with the Bali World Cultural Celebrations (BWCC) event which will be held from June, 12-25, 2022, then the Balinese Tradition Jantra from June 20-July 6, 2022.

BWCC will bring together the cultural peculiarities of various countries, with the spirit of Padma Buana as the Center of World Civilization. "Jantra of Balinese Tradition embodies the family of Balinese traditions, namely folk games, traditional sports, usada (traditional medicine), undagi (traditional architecture) and traditional culinary," he said.

In the 44th PKB inaugural performance, the Bali Provincial Government's Murdhanata Dwipa Jaya Dance, Bandana Manggala Yudha Children's Dance, Ballet "Catur Kumba Mahosadhi" was presented in collaboration with the Indonesian Art Institute Denpasar and the Usadhi Langu Art Studio.