Sri Lanka recently registered sasando with the World Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (WIPO). Sasando is known as a string musical instrument native to Rote island of East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia. 

The Indonesian government is preparing evidence that will prove that sasando is an authentic traditional musical instrument of Indonesia, said Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Cultural Affairs Muhadjir Effendy on 29 December. 

East Nusa Tenggara Deputy Governor Josef Nai Soi said the administration has contacted WIPO in regard to this matter.  “I have contacted the deputy of WIPO, as we wanted to file a protest. However, they (WIPO) have cancelled their intention (to give the intellectual property rights of sasando to Sri Lanka),” he stated.

Josef explained that the East Nusa Tenggara administration has registered sasando with the Indonesian Ministry of Law and Human Rights. However, unlike WIPO which registration is recognised internationally, the registration with the ministry only applies at the national level. 

Head of the Legal and Human Rights Services Division Arfan F. Muhlizi confirmed the national registration. 

According to him, Sasando has been inventoried, documented and archived in the Communal Intellectual Property Data Centre (KIK) as a Traditional Cultural Expression (EBT) from Rote Ndao regency with an EBT record number 53202100091. The registration certificate was handed over at the 5th Indonesian Pesona Anugerah Night (API) 2020 which was held in May 2021.

Josef added that the East Nusa Tenggara government already has plans to register sasando with WIPO, saying that he and the Minister of Law and Human Rights were supposed to attend a meeting held by WIPO. However, the meeting was cancelled due to the spread of COVID-19 Omicron.