Jakarta - A number of members of the Ponorogo Reyog Community (KRP) visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) office to ask for information and clarification regarding the burning of reyog at the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao, Philippines. The Indonesian Consulate General in Davao himself said that the burned reyog had been damaged and eaten by termites.

18 KRP representatives gathered in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu) office, Jl Pejambon, Central Jakarta, Monday (2/10/2015). They brought 2 sudden peacocks, a barong, and a gayor with a picture of a dragon, a banner that reads "Resolute Action on Burning Reyog at the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao Philippines" and an open letter to Foreign Minister Retno LP Marsudi.

Their arrival was related to the burning of reog that occurred at the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao on 20 October. They also attached a picture showing the reyog burning.
"Our arrival is to formally ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is the "superior" of the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao - Philippines to convey information and clarification honestly and transparently on the burning of Reyog Ponorogo's property," said KRP chairman Suyatno to reporters.
 
Suyatno was accompanied, among others, by the Deputy Chairperson of the KRP Suparno Nojeng, the Secretary of the KRP M Syaiful Jihad, the Treasurer of the KRP Agus Susanto, the leader of the reyog group Singo Wiro Yudho, Eko Prasetyo and the reyog artist who had performed in Davao Philippines in 2005, Suyono Gendon.
 
After waiting for some time, 6 KRP representatives were received by Siti Sofia Sudarma, Director of Information and Media at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 10.20 WIB. For 30 minutes they held a meeting and as a result the Ministry of Foreign Affairs promised to seek information related to the incident by forming a team to the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao in the near future.
 
"The team will further clarify the incident and we will convey the results to the KRP," said Sofia.
 
Explanation of the Consulate General in Davao

Meanwhile, in a press release published by the Consulate General in Davao on its website, it was explained that on October 20, 2015 the Consulate General in Davao City was forced to destroy the Ponorogo reog which had been an asset of the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City since 1988. The destruction by burning had to be carried out because the Ponorogo reog was already in a state of disrepair. damaged and eaten by termites.

"The arson was not at all an attempt by the Consulate General in Davao City to damage or eliminate Reog Ponorogo as a cultural asset. The destruction of these assets has been carried out carefully and with full respect for Reog Ponorogo as a cultural asset. Consulate General in Davao City would also like to emphasize that the arson was burned. has absolutely nothing to do with efforts to exorcise idols or spirits," he wrote.
 
"The Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City is currently communicating with parties in Indonesia to seek a new replacement for Reog Ponorogo," he continued.