The developer of Gowa Discovery Park in South Sulawesi is being protested against for allegedly destroying Fort Somba Opu historical site during the construction of the park.
Dozens of students from Hasanuddin University’s Archaeology Students Association rallied in front of the South Sulawesi governor’s office in Makassar on Wednesday in protest against the alleged destruction.
“The development of the tourist site has caused further destruction to Fort Somba Opu. Artifacts in the area have been destroyed despite a regulation ruling that the artifacts should not be modified or moved, let alone destroyed or dumped,” said Muhammad Ihsan, one of the students.
The students also protested the construction of a one meter-high concrete fence inside the fort, which they said had changed the condition of the protected historical site.
Fort Somba Opu was built in the 16th century by a Gowa king, and was destroyed in the 17th century by the Dutch. The ruins remained buried until 1987, when a team of archaeologists decided to excavate the area, after which the fort was declared a historical and protected site.
PT Mirah Megah Wisata was granted permission to develop a 17-hectare area around the site, wherein it planned to build water, bird and elephant parks, among other things.
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