JAKARTA - Conflicts in the Middle East not only trigger a humanitarian crisis, but also threaten the continuity of cultural heritage. In a war situation, historical sites to traditions that live in the midst of society are at great risk of being damaged or even lost.
Seeing this, the Minister of Culture (Menbud) Fadli Zon said that the escalation of violence in the Middle East has far-reaching impacts, including on the existence of cultural heritage.
"This situation not only puts civilians at greater risk, but also threatens cultural heritage, both sites and cultural sites and intangible cultural heritage throughout the region," he said, as quoted by ANTARA, April 1.
He explained that armed conflict not only has an impact on physical damage, but also erodes values and identities that have been passed down from generation to generation.
According to him, the protection of cultural heritage in a conflict situation is not only a moral responsibility, but also an international legal obligation, as stipulated in various global conventions.
"Any destruction, destruction, or abuse of cultural property in conflict will weaken the social fabric of society, deepen trauma, and undermine opportunities for peace," he said.
The Indonesian Ministry of Culture also appealed to all parties to respect international humanitarian law and maintain the security of peacekeepers and cultural sites from various threats, including attacks, vandalism, and looting.
The Indonesian government also supports international efforts, including those carried out by UNESCO, in strengthening protection measures for cultural sites that are in a vulnerable condition.
In addition, Menbud expressed his condolences for the deaths of three TNI soldiers who served in the United Nations peacekeeping mission through the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) in South Lebanon, as well as praying for the recovery of injured personnel.
He also emphasized the condemnation of the attack, which was considered to endanger peacekeepers, civilians, and critical infrastructure, as well as increasing the threat to cultural heritage in the region.
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