Academic: Prambanan Restoration Strengthens Cultural Heritage Diplomacy

A lecturer in International Relations at Sriwijaya University, I Kadek Andre Nuaba, has said that India’s commitment to assist in the restoration and revitalisation of the Prambanan Temple Complex is an important momentum for strengthening Indonesia’s cultural heritage diplomacy. He stated that Prambanan has now evolved from merely a cultural heritage site into a strategic diplomatic instrument for Indonesia. However, the success of this cooperation does not solely depend on the physical restoration of the temple, but also on governance capable of balancing diplomatic, conservation, and religious practice interests. “The restoration cooperation with India shows that Prambanan holds both cultural and diplomatic value. However, its management must be able to accommodate the interests of the state, Hindus, tourists, and international conservation standards,” said I Kadek in a statement in Tangerang on Tuesday. According to Andre, India’s commitment, reaffirmed during the Indonesia–India Joint Commission Meeting, signals that cooperation between the two countries has moved from political commitment to tangible implementation. The restoration is also planned to cover the Sewu and Plaosan temple areas. He assessed that Indonesia holds a unique position as it is able to manage a Hindu heritage site that is still actively used for worship in a country with a Muslim-majority population. This position is an important asset in building Indonesia’s image as a country that upholds tolerance and the preservation of world cultural heritage. Nevertheless, Andre cautioned that the biggest challenge lies precisely in governance. Issues such as restoration priorities, the regulation of worship activities, tourist access, and the involvement of foreign parties must be clearly regulated to avoid conflicts at the domestic level.