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Komodo Park May Be Suspended From New7Wonders Competition
Jakarta Globe | February 01, 2011

Komodo National Park is competing to become one of the world Komodo National Park is competing to become one of the world's new seven wonders. Indonesia and the foundation running the competition have become embroiled in a dispute following the foundation’s allegations that the Ministry had reneged on its commitment to host an event to announce the competition’s winners. (AFP Photo)
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denniH
4:28pm Feb 4, 2011

For those who have not yet read the official printed response from New7Wonders here is the link. It puts into serious question the amount that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism is claiming they are being asked for. It also says that the Ministry of Culture and Tourism has been aware of these figures from some time. It also infers that certain stakeholders in Indonesia have pulled back, some saying because they have not been paid kick-backs they have asked for. This is what Eamonn Fitzgerald of New7Woners said, “We completely understand that certain government departments can decide to pull back from their previous pledges, and not do their part to support this. It is a decision they can make, fully aware of the consequences.”

http://n7wpress.wordpress.com/2011/02/02/the-new7wonders-official-host-in-jakarta-the-true-financial-numbers/


IndoUsa
12:46am Feb 4, 2011

Dear All,

You have to understand that at the moment Indonesia can't afford to pay US$45million for commitment and admin fee to be paid to New7wonders as they requested. You have also to understand that Indonesia is facing uprising poverty. If we have that money though, we prefer our government to use the money to help its people not to pay to this New7wonders instituion.

I sometime wonder, why they force us will lose our Komodo ads if we don't pay them. Do you think what the New7wonders ask is appropriate? We are not a rich country. And yet, they are shamelessly ask our President for answer. Think that. We have no choice.

AnakChangi
2:00am Feb 3, 2011

@langfordpeter. Even a Komodo dragon would find that ministers & lawmakers leave a bad taste in the mouth.

langfordpeter
8:57pm Feb 2, 2011

I would like to propose that the DPR session and Cabinet meeting be held there. The komodo dragon should be allowed to lovingly lick the "lawmakers" and ministers

marko1
5:08pm Feb 2, 2011

Maybe the FPI should be considered New7Wonders (at least thats from the police and TNI perspective)

The New7Wonders Foundation has begun the process of suspending the Indonesian candidate Komodo as one of the 28 Finalists in the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign, according to a press release issued by the foundation late on Monday.   

“We have been forced to take this action after weeks of unproductive private and official discussions aiming to resolve an important legal matter positively,” Bernard Weber, President of the New7Wonders Foundation, said in the statement.  

The principal reasons Weber cited for this dramatic move were a legally binding contract for Jakarta to host the New7Wonders official announcement on Nov. 11, 2011, that is not being honored, and the slow response by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism to back up its many public and documented statements of support for the campaign.  

The foundation said Weber wrote a personal letter to President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono appealing for a speedy resolution of the issue. 

“I believe you have the vision, courage and capacity to resolve an issue that is close to the heart of many Indonesians,” he said.  

“I can pledge to you now that as soon as things are brought back on track we will immediately halt the suspension process and re-instate Komodo as an authorised Finalist in the Official New7Wonders of Nature campaign,” the letter continued.   

But Weber left no doubt about the outcome if an agreement is not reached: “However, should a solution not be forthcoming then we will have to proceed with the complete withdrawal of Komodo and its replacement by another nominee from the official Reserve List. We are seeking all avenues in respect of our contractual rights to avoid this ultimate and final step.”  

To emphasize the impact of a possible suspension, Weber pointed to the benefits that the first campaign to elect the man-made Official New 7 Wonders of the World delivered. That campaign climaxed in a spectacular event in Lisbon, Portugal, on 7 July 2007, and a study concluded that more than US$5 billion in terms of economic, tourism and national brand value were generated as a result. He noted that the selection of the Official New7Wonders of Nature by an expected 1 billion votes is as significant an event as the football World Cup final, and comparable to the Olympic opening ceremony and the Academy Awards.  

The Komodo National Park includes the three larger islands Komodo, Rinca and Padar, as well as numerous smaller ones, for a total area of 1,817 square kilometers (603 square kilometers of it land). The national park was founded in 1980 to protect the Komodo dragon. Later, it was also dedicated to protecting other species, including marine animals.  

The park has been slipping in rankings, and last week sat at 26th place on the list of 28 finalists in the New7Wonders competition. 

In response, Yudhoyono had said he would personally take part in promoting Komodo and that he would call for more votes during National Press Day celebrations in Kupang on Feb. 9.