Surakarta City Plans Banning Dog Meat Consumption

TheIndonesia.id - The Surakarta City Government, Central Java, is considering setting a regional regulation (perda) regarding the sale of dog meat to the local house of representatives. Surakarta or colloquially known as Solo is infamous for its dog meat consumption.

"We'll see first. We have discussed it (with the DPRD)," said Surakarta Mayor Gibran Rakabuming Raka in Solo, Wednesday, September 14, 2022.

He said with the increasing number of national and international events in Solo, of course, the habit of consuming dog meat must be changed. "This is the branding of Solo as a modern cultural city, moreover (Solo) often hosts national and international events, dog meat consumption needs to be reviewed because the branding is not good for Solo," said Rakabuming who is also the President of Indonesia's first son.

Regarding the dog meat trade banning, he admitted that there was no legal basis for it. "There is no hook yet, this is not a matter of halal or haram but more about branding the city in the future. This is not suitable for consumption. Solo is now marketing intensively, on social media, everywhere. Consumption of this dog meat is not in tune with the branding all along," he said.

He said one thing that needs to be considered is a solution for dog meat traders who depend on this business as their main source of income. "Where are the perpetrators going, it's not as easy as saying no. We need to think about alternatives and it's not as easy as (asking them) selling chickens," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Surakarta Justice and Prosperous Party Regional Advisory Council (MPD), Sugeng Riyanto, said that the dog meat regional regulation was specifically handed over to the mayor. "We have conveyed that in the past period, the local house representatives did not succeed (to set a regulation). This means that it seems that regulation is important but other aspects are more important," he said.

However, he suggested that if you want foreign tourists to feel more at home in Solo, the local government should understand their habits, one of which is their appetite. "Including if it has to do with what kind of dog meat they cook," he said.

Animal lover organization Animal Defenders Indonesia reported that Solo is the biggest city consuming dog meat in Indonesia.