By NNN-ANTARA
Samarinda, East Kalimantan : Acting East Kalimantan Governor Yurnalis Ngayoh denied on Monday that he has allowed a 20-member arts troupe from West Kutai district to conduct a Dayaknese cultural festival in Israel as part of tourism promotion.
"Admittedly, we have received a letter from the West Kutai administration applying for a permit to conduct arts performance at the invitation of Maataf, the Center for Encouragement of Cultural Exchange and Folklore. But the letter makes no mention of destination country, including Israel. It only mentions Europe," Yurnalis said.
The local government only issued a recommendation, whereas the authority to decide whether or not they could depart for Israel rest with the central government in this case the Home Ministry and the Foreign Ministry, he said.
"We only have the authority to issue a recommendation. We passed on the letter to the Home Ministry on June 25, 2007. It is the central government which has the authority to decide whether or not they can go abroad," he said.
It would be regretable if the arts troupe pushed through with the cultural festival in Israel which had no diplomatic ties with Indonesia, he said.
"It is necessary to look into whether or not they will really conduct an arts festival in Israel and whether or not the central government has issued a permit to them because I learnt the news from journalists," he said.
The arts troupe reportedly left for Israel via Sukarno-Hatta Airport earlier in the day.
Yohanes, member of the arts contingent, told reporters at the Soekarno-Hatta Airport early Monday the mission was merely aimed at promoting the Dayaknese culture which had of late attracted tourists from many countries.Â