Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage

Solo, MelayuOnline.com- The existence of cultural heritage for a nation is totally important. This does not only show one society‘s personality, but also the creativity coming out of spiritual, social, and cultural legacies. Preserving intangible cultural heritage greatly deals with from intellectual property protection for knowledge and cultural expression of a nation. Therefore, safeguarding for intangible cultural heritage is a must.

Such argumentation was expressed on talk show “Safeguarding for Intangible Cultural Heritage,” presenting Himalchuli Gurung – a Programme Specialist for Culture, UNESCO, Jakarta Office – and Indonesian Vice President‘s Deputy Secretary, V. Henry Soelistyo Budi, S.H., L.L.M.  

 “Safeguarding is an effort to identify, to document, to research, to preserve, to protect, to promote, to inherit, and to revitalise.” Himalchuli said. Similarly, Henry stated that cultural heritage is a reflection of cultural value and a memory of a society. Hence, a society‘s identity must be kept continuously.

In question and answer session, Henry expressed a shocking statement. He remarked “government is not ready yet for keeping cultural heritage. This can be seen from the absence of government‘s regulation on intellectual property protection.”

During the lunch session, the Head of Balai Kajian dan Pengambangan Budaya Melayu-BKPBM (Center for Research and Development of Malay Culture), Mahyudin Al Mudra, took a meet with Henry. In the meeting, Mahyudin introduced BKPBM‘s programs including the publishing of 366 Cerita Rakyat Nusantara – a book containing 366 folklores from all Indonesian Archipelago. Henry showed his cordial appreciation for BKPBM‘s programs and would like to encourage BKPBM at all time. Moreover, he said that what BKPBM is doing now is a real effort in preserving cultural heritage.

(NI/ter/02/06-08)

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