September 2, 2025 | 06:35 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The management of the Geological Museum in Bandung has implemented maximum security measures in response to the recent unrest and protests. Concerns have escalated after the protests in Kediri, East Java, ended with the looting of the museum collections at Bagawanta Bhari.
Isnu Hajar Sulistyawan, the head of the Geological Museum, said that the museum's collections are a source of information and knowledge for the public. He stated, "The looting of the collections is detrimental to the community," in an interview with Tempo on Monday, September 1, 2025.
The Geological Museum is located not far from the ongoing protests in front of the West Java Regional House of Representatives (DPRD) building. Situated on the same road as the Geological Museum on Jalan Diponegoro, the distance between the two is approximately one kilometer.
Information Encased in Stone - Museum Collections
Although the geological museum's collections mainly consist of rocks, which may not be attractive for selling, Isnu conveyed that they are still ensuring maximum security within their capabilities. "Precious stones are more valuable for their information and knowledge rather than their monetary value," he stated. The museum management is collaborating and maintaining intensive communication with security officers from the Geological Agency, as well as the military and police.
So far, the activities at the Geological Museum in Bandung have continued as normal and have not been disrupted by the mass demonstrations. "We are open as usual, but adjusting to the environmental conditions," he said. According to Isnu, the museum management remains vigilant in monitoring the security situation while providing services to the public.
Looting at the Bagawanta Bhari Museum
The Indonesian Ministry of Culture expressed deep concern over the incident at the Bagawanta Bhari Museum in Kediri, which was impacted by the protests on Saturday night, August 30, 2025. According to Minister of Culture Fadli Zon, the museum is more than just a space for historical collections; it is also a symbol of the community's collective memory. Any form of disturbance and vandalism against the museum is a great loss to the nation. "The Ministry of Culture deeply regrets the incident," he stated on the Ministry of Culture's website on Monday, September 1, 2025.
The incident resulted in the damage and loss of several collections from the Bagawanta Bhari Museum in Kediri. Some important collections that were lost include the head of a Ganesha statue, batik cloth collections, old books, and severely damaged miniature granary collections. Other collections, such as Bodhisattva statues and inscribed mantra bricks, were successfully rescued by the caretakers.
Fadli Zon urged those who took some of the important collections to promptly return and hand them over to the Regional Cultural Heritage Preservation Center XI or the Bagawanta Bhari Museum in Kediri.
In addition, the Ministry of Culture also lamented the burning of several cultural heritage buildings during the protests, such as the main section of the Grahadi Building in Surabaya, which was built in 1795 with a distinctive architectural style. The official residence of the West Java Deputy Governor, located at 20 Jalan Diponegoro in Bandung, was built in the 1920s in the unique Indische Empire architectural style. It also fell victim to the unrest.
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