The Historical Heritage Of Vietnamese Refugees In Galang Will Soon Be Designated As Cultural Heritage

BATAM - The Department of Culture and Tourism (Disbudpar) Batam City, Riau Islands, is accelerating the determination of five objects in the Vietnam Village area, Galang Island, as cultural heritage.

Head of Disbudpar Batam Ardiwinata said this step was a follow-up to the results of the study and verification of the Batam Cultural Heritage Expert Team (TACB).

"We have held a trial to fight for ODCB (Objek Suspected of Cultural Conservation). This is a real step for the Batam City Government in maintaining identity and historical heritage," said Ardiwinata when contacted in Batam, Monday, October 13.

The five objects being proposed include refugee ships, yellow barracks, mes Brimob, the Nha To Duc Me Vo Nhiem Church, and the Vietnam Refugee Management Committee (P3V) building.

All of these objects are located in the Vietnam Village area on Galang Island, a historic area because they were once a refugee place for Vietnamese people in the 1970s (1990 era.

According to Ardiwinata, the determination of the cultural heritage is not only an administrative effort, but also a form of moral responsibility to preserve the historical values of Galang Island as well as support the development of historical tourism in Batam.

"Determination of cultural heritage is not just an administrative recognition, but also a manifestation of our responsibility to preserve the collective memory of this city," he said.

Meanwhile, the Minister for Cultural Conservation as well as a member of the Batam TACB, Raja Zulkarnain, explained that his party is currently preparing a final recommendation to be submitted to the legal section before the Batam Mayor's Decree (SK) was issued.

"Our target is that the process will be completed this October. As soon as the decree is completed, it will only be submitted to the Mayor for official determination," said Raja.

He added that the assessment of the five ODCBs had begun since July involving academics, archaeologists, as well as historical and cultural experts.

It is hoped that the decree on the official determination of five cultural heritages in Vietnam Village can be issued before October 26, 2025.