Indonesia Appeals for International Help to Save Borobudur Temple

06 April, 2011 | Source: Jakarta Globe

Indonesian preservation experts have issued a call for international financial assistance to help save Borobudur Temple, Antara is reporting.

The world heritage site, which includes the Mendut and Pawon temples, suffered severe damage during last year’s Mount Merapi’s volcanic eruptions, which claimed 322 lives.

Besides the human toll, the thick, acidic ash that now blankets the temples continued to pose an ongoing threat to their preservation, Antara reported on Wednesday.

When diluted with water, the acidic ash, which also contains hyaline (a glass-like substance), reacts with the stone, including the famed relief carvings and stupa, accelerating corrosion of the surface.

“This potential and inevitable damage if not mitigated very soon constitutes a significant threat to the outstanding universal value of the three temples,” Antara reported.

The report said that Indonesian authorities had appealed to Unesco for assistance.

“Some funds have already been committed to these emergency actions, and identified preliminary operations are currently underway at the site using this financial allocation, which is essentially the process of removing surface coating from parts of the drainage systems and reliefs.

“However, substantial financial resources are still needed to fully restore the Borobudur Temple Compounds, to rehabilitate the cultural tourism sector, and to enhance the livelihoods of affected local communities who are directly and indirectly dependent on the site for their livelihoods.”


 

 

The Indonesian government has ensured that people in the age group of over 18 years will receive the COVID-19 vaccine to expand vaccination coverage to 70 percent across Indonesia.
The Indonesian government plans to issue savings sukuk (Islamic bonds), series ST007, to expand the base of retail investors in the domestic financial market and finance green projects in the state budget (APBN).
President Joko Widodo recently signed a regulation specifying the procurement and immunization schedule for the COVID-19 vaccine for Indonesia, which has been battling the deadly disease since March 2 this year.
President Joko Widodo on Wednesday said the coronavirus pandemic has reminded the nation and the state of the importance of science and technology.
Indonesian Foreign Affairs Minister Retno Marsudi offered her condolences and sympathies to the families of the victims of the explosion that rocked Beirut in Lebanon on Tuesday evening.
Indonesia is working with South Korea to develop a vaccine for the novel coronavirus disease, in addition to collaborating with China.
Address: 1068 Budapest, Városligeti fasor 26. | MAP |
Phone: (+36-1) 413 3800 Fax: (+36-1) 322 8669
E-mail: embassy@indonesianembassy.hu