[Tlc] TC-border politics

[justinm at ucr.edu]

Forwarded from Jennifer Gampell.
Thanks,
justin

COMMENTARY

All heated up about heritage
PLOENPOTE ATTHAKOR


Public frenzy over the registration of Preah Vihear temple ruins on the 
Thai-Cambodian border as a World Heritage Site by Cambodia comes at a 
crucial time.


Overnight, the issue has become a hot debate. We see a number of 
self-proclaimed protectors of the ancient site. Strangely though, many fear 
Thailand will "forever lose" the site, which actually stopped belonging to 
the country when the International Court of Justice gave a ruling in favour 
of Cambodia almost half a century ago.


As the issue is avidly politicised, people keep mentioning "the loss" 
without knowing exactly what we are to lose if Preah Vihear gains 
international recognition at the Unesco meeting in Quebec soon.


A superficial look at the issue may give the impression that the thing 
called "cultural heritage" does matter in our society. But does it, really?


Let's look at the way we have handled our heritage and heritage sites and we 
may realise that the opposite is exactly the truth. Do we take good care of 
Ayutthaya - our World Heritage site - which is under threat from 
encroachment? The attack on Phanom Rung Historical Park in Buri Ram is still 
fresh in our memory. We have heard of a mining concession in an area 
adjacent to the buffer zone of Huai Kha Kaeng wildlife sanctuary in Uthai 
Thani - which is also a World Heritage site. Are we considering doing 
anything to protect it?


Temple thievery, with bandits making off with precious artifacts, have made 
headlines so often that we are quite familiar with it.


Closer to us all in the Big Mango, national artist Acharn Chakrabhand 
Posayakrit is facing a tremendous threat in the form of a project to build a 
32-storey condominium next door to his house, which also serves as the 
office of the Chakrabhand Posayakrit Foundation on Soi Ekamai. The project, 
which is being carried out by Singapore-based Dalvey Residence Co, has the 
alleged potential to harm a collection of artworks by this National Artist, 
including a number of paintings, puppets from his historic production, 
Romance of the Three Kingdoms and also his new production, Taleng Phai, 
whose preparation is under way.


Inarguably, Acharn Chakrabhand's house is a living heritage - a place where 
the National Artist makes new creations. It is also a place where a number 
of artists and musicians come to work on the puppets, practise their skills 
and rehearse their performance almost every day. The house is a place of 
learning for art students.


Worse, it has been found that existing laws are all in favour of the project 
developer, rather than individual residents like Acharn Chakrabhand.


Although Dalvey has said it will do its best to minimise the impact from its 
construction, there is no guarantee that the house will still be livable in, 
either during construction which is to last three years, or after project 
completion.


After all, such a huge building will unavoidably alter the physical 
environment of the neighbourhood - and not necessarily in a positive way.


Interestingly enough, the state authorities, including the Bangkok 
Metropolitan Administration and the Natural Resources and Environment 
Ministry, have looked into the issue. With despair, they have admitted that 
they do not have the power to stop the project, given the laws they have in 
their hand. Instead, they are placing their hope on "social pressure" to 
help the embattled artist.


The artist has launched a signature-collection campaign in which his fans 
and supporters sign up to voice their disapproval of the project. Yet no one 
knows if enough pressure can be generated, as Acharn Chakrabhand's fight 
against the project goes on almost unnoticed by society at large.


That is in profound contrast to what has happened in the Preah Vihear case.


More important, we have not heard a single word from the Culture Ministry, 
the agency authorised to safeguard the nation's culture and heritage. Which 
raises the question: can we still place our hopes in this agency?


I dare not say.


Acharn Chakrabhand's house is not just an individual's house. It is part of 
our national heritage which we cannot afford to lose.


Ploenpote Atthakor is Deputy News Editor, Bangkok Post.

______________
Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu