If Malaysia wants to control Reog Ponorogo, but in Davao the Philippines is different. Barongan and suddenly peacock which were part of the Reog Ponorogo apparatus were burned by a number of Indonesian Consulate General staff in Davao, Southern Philippines, Tuesday (20/10/2015).
As reported by the bitungnews.com site, he explained that the arson was actually carried out by a number of the Indonesian Consulate General's staff themselves. Another device that was burned was an ornament depicting a dragon on a gong (musical instrument) supporting pole to accompany Reog Ponorogo.
It is said that the reason for the burning of Barongan Reog Ponorogo, and the dragon decoration on the gamelan, is because there is a devil and is an idol. Unfortunately, the Acting Consulate General, Loegeng Priyohanisetyo, did not prevent the arson.
Instead, Acting Consulate General Davao summoned a security guard named Santander to pour gas over the reog and 2 gamelan dragons. Even the security guard who was ordered was so surprised and surprised.
"Hadluk kaayu ko, dear kaayu ang dragon gwapo kaayu unya sunugon, kasayang sa reog pero gisugo man ko (I'm so scared, it's a shame that the dragon snake is so good it wants to be burned, the reog is a pity but how else can I be told)," said Santander.
"The Barong Reog and the burned gamelan dragon decorations are the inventory of the Indonesian Consulate General's cultural museum. However, none of the other Indonesian Consulate General staff knew when the arson took place," said a source from bitungnews.com.
However, after this incident, most of the perpetrators were blasphemed by Indonesian citizens in Davao, but the perpetrators still felt innocent because they thought what they were doing was right in the eyes of God.
An Indonesian citizen residing in Davao, stated that the Acting Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Davao was declared persona non grata, and asked the Indonesian government to withdraw the persons involved in the act of burning the nation's cultural heritage.
Bitungnews.com tried to contact the Media and Information Service, Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 021 3813453, but until this news was published it was not picked up. And an electronic message to infomed@kemlu.go.id got an answer.
Stupid action
The act of burning Barong Reog Ponorogo and the Gamelan Dragon Ornament, at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia (KJRI) Davao, Philippines, was criticized by International Political Observer Sam Ratulangi University, Manado, Dr. Michael Mamentu.
"One of the duties of diplomats is to introduce national culture in other countries, this is a bad precedent for our diplomacy world, I can even say it is a 'stupid action' for the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao," said Michael Mamentu, to bitungnews.com.
According to Dr. Michael Mamentu, the Acting Consulate should have been more prudent in dealing with this problem, because the notion of being an idol or a devil in the decoration of the nation's culture, does not have to burn or destroy these items as a solution. This is an irony, other countries claim our cultural heritage, while at the Indonesian Consulate General in Davao it burned them, the Acting Consulate General should have sent the equipment home, to be replaced with other cultural displays because Indonesia is rich with noble culture, added Mamentu. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs must investigate the case of asset burning at the Indonesian Consulate General, and those involved in the action should be sent home to be replaced with wiser diplomats, he concluded.