News
Ombudsman to Mediate Dispute between Borobudur Vendors and Operator
News Desk (The Jakarta Post) October 10, 2024
The Indonesian Ombudsman holds a meeting with street vendors affiliated with the Borobudur Crafts and Food Center Association (SKMB) in Wanurejo village, Borobudur district, Magelang regency, Central Java, on Oct. 1, 2024. The street vendors said they wer
The Indonesian Ombudsman will mediate a dispute between the Borobudur Crafts and Food Center Association (SKMB) and Taman Wisata Candi Borobudur, Prambanan, and Ratu Boko (TWC), which manages the Borobudur Arts Village.
The move came after allegations that 350 street vendors affiliated with the SKMB were denied their rightful stalls in the newly constructed arts village.
The Yogyakarta Legal Aid Institute (LBH), representing the affected vendors, criticized TWC for causing confusion by allegedly involving other vendor groups in past discussions. It insists that the upcoming mediation should include only the SKMB, TWC and the ombudsman to resolve the issue fairly.
Meanwhile, ombudsman member Johanes Widiantoro said his office would facilitate a dialogue between the SKMB and TWC in the upcoming week.
“We still don’t know where [we will hold the dialogue]. It should be in a neutral space,” Johanes said after a hearing with the SKMB at the Wanurejo tourist village in Magelang, Central Java, on Tuesday, as quoted by kompas.com.
The ombudsman team also held a meeting with TWC, Acting Magelang Regent Sepyo Achanto and other leaders in the regency.
The Borobudur Art Village is part of a national strategic project to revitalize the Borobudur tourism complex. The project, funded with a budget of Rp253.2 billion (US$16.63 million), will be officially inaugurated by President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo in the second week of October.
The village, built on the former Kujon soccer field covering 10.7 hectares, includes a museum, an amphitheater and numerous stalls for vendors.
Separately, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Minister Erick Thohir visited the art village on Tuesday to inspect the new trading hub for vendors previously selling near Borobudur Temple.
Accompanied by his team, Erick emphasized that the development program would make the area more organized.
The minister also mentioned that the entire Borobudur complex would be managed by TWC per Presidential Regulation No. 101/2024, integrating tourism and conservation management.
Previously, TWC had the authority over the tourism area. Meanwhile, the Education, Culture, Research and Technology Ministry's Culture Directorate General managed the conservation area.
"[The SOEs Ministry] only helps with infrastructure and services. We do not intend to overstep various ministries. However, [tourism and conservation] need to be integrated," Erick said.
The improvements, including the green space and shuttle bus service for visitors, are aimed at elevating Borobudur as a premier historical tourism destination. Erick also noted ongoing efforts to improve international access, such as direct flights from Thailand to Yogyakarta.
Source: www.thejakartapost.com