PAPUA'S CULTURAL ART HANDICRAFTS ON BRING OF EXTINCTION

Biak, Sept 25 (ANTARA) - A variety of Papua cultural art handicraft articles are now on the brink of extiction unless protected by special regional regulations, and provincial regulations which have yet to be issued.
Papua Art and Culture Supervisor Fhilip Ramandey said here on Thursday that the provincial administration together with Papua Legislative Assembly are expected soon to ratificate the regulations to protect the original Papua artists.
"When the Netherlands ruled Biak, there was a protection and recognition of the original culture," Ramandey said.
He added that the protection through the regulations is an effort to preserve the Papua genuine culture.
Some changes have taken place in Genyem, Jayapura Municipality as the locals changed the pattern of eating 'papeda' (sago porridge) with tofu when originally consumed with gabus fish (kind of freshwater fish).
Ramandey mentioned another example of the sculptures which were usually made by people in Sentani, Jayapura Municipality, are now made by sculptors from Makassar.
Tifa, Biak traditional percussion instruments, originally had two drums instead one.
He was concerned that the members of the young generation would not recognize their own culture in the next few years.
Related to an art festival in Biak Numfor Municipality, Ramandey said that the event needed a publication.
"It is a celebration of the people but many local Papuans do not attend the festival," he said.