Borobudur needs more commitment: UNESCO

Borobudur needs more commitment: UNESCO

Sri Wahyuni, The Jakarta Post, Magelang, Central Java

The famous Buddhist temple of Borobudur in Magelang, Central
Java, needs a complete restoration that focuses not only on
physical development but, mainly, on cultural, economic and
environmental factors, according to a UN official.

United Nations Education, Science and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) Director General Koichiro Matsuura said that entering
the second phase of the temple, all related government agencies
should give adequate attention to all factors to help preserve
the world heritage site.

"We should focus not only on the temple's physical development
but also on many other factors to benefit everyone worldwide. The
temple has not only archeological and historical value but,
mainly, on religious, economic and environmental ones and the
people here need to give adequate attention to help preserve it,"
he said in the opening ceremony of the fourth international
expert's meeting near the temple compound over the weekend.

Around 120 local and foreign experts of different disciplines
are attending the meeting scheduled to end on Monday.

He explained that the first phase of the temple's physical
renovation which began in 1973 was completed in 1983 and the
meeting was the fourth that UNESCO has organized to make
preparations for the second phase of the temple's restoration
that would be started as soon as possible.

Matsuura emphasized the importance of paying serious attention
to the non-physical factors in the second phase of the temple's
planned restoration. He said that included an improvement of the
people's awareness of the world heritage's religious,
environmental and historical value since thousands of people are
living around the temple and more than 2.5 million locals and
foreigners visit the site annually.

"First of all, the temple's presence should benefit locals to
encourage them to preserve the historical site. Those living
around the temple should be empowered to take part in the tourism
development at the temple compound.

"Local youths and adults should be trained to be tour guides
for all domestic and foreign tourists visiting the site. Such
programs will indirectly encourage the locals to help preserve
it," he said, adding both locals and visitors should have a
common understanding of the temple's relevance not just for the
present, but forever.

Last month, local artists and people held four art festivals
in conjunction with the International Borobudur Festival
organized by the provincial administration because of the absence
of coordination between authorities and local artists.

Minister of Tourism and Culture I Gede Ardhika who officially
opened the meeting said the experts were expected to come up with
concrete recommendations to make policy and strategy for the
temple's long-term preservation, utilization and development.

"That is why I consider this meeting very important especially
because it is expected to recommend long-term policy and strategy
to preserve world heritage," Ardika said in his opening address
at the meeting.

He called on the experts to discuss a possible redesign of the
temple's landscape and what measures should be taken to help
empower locals to preserve the temple and its religious,
historical and environmental values.

The minister also inaugurated the Karmawibangga Museum and
library in the temple's tourist park complex.