The reog ponorogo art community in Jabodetabek, Monday (2/11) met with Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) officials to ask about the burning of reog instruments at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) in Davao City, Philippines.

Director of Information and Media at the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Siti Sofia Sudarma, said that as many as six reog Ponorogo administrators met with her party to express their disappointment regarding the burning.

During the meeting, the community also said that the burning hurt the feelings of the Reog Ponorogo community and was a form of destruction of cultural assets that became Indonesian cultural heritage.

“They also gave a letter to the Foreign Minister and asked the Foreign Ministry to clarify this case, starting from the chronology, motive, to the perpetrators. We accommodate all their concerns and will convey the letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Retno Marsudi)," he told Republika.co.id, Tuesday (3/11).

Siti admitted that she had actually clarified to the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao City by telephone. The Consul General, he said, admitted that he had committed the arson. He added that the burning had to be carried out because the 30-year-old art instrument was damaged and eaten by termites.

When Siti said the reason, one of the community members who donated the equipment to the Consulate General denied it.

Members of the community said the equipment was made in 2007 and was judged not to be too fragile. Siti in the near future will send a team to review directly to the field. This step also clarifies the burning of reog equipment.

"We don't know when the team will go there, but what is clear is as soon as possible. We are just waiting for orders from the leadership," he said.