ABC Radio Australia
Thailand's new culture minister says her first priority in office will be to reclaim cultural recognition ownership of a graceful hand position called the 'jeeb'
In 2008, Cambodia registered shadow theatre on the UNESCO List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the list included the hand gesture in question.
Presenter: Liam Cochrane
Speaker: Professor Supote Prasertsri, an adviser to various cultural and academic groups in both Thailand and Cambodia
PRASERTSRI: From the Cambodian side it's very old, I mean as you know the Cambodian civilisation started in the 4th century AD, and reached its highest stage about 12th century, a lot of carving temples, stone temples, bas relief, you can see now both in I would call, in ancient Khmer empire. Now you can see in Thailand and Cambodia a lot of hand gestures, many kinds of hand gestures.
COCHRANE: And what does the inclusion of this gesture on the UNESCO list, what does that actually mean?
PRASERTSRI: Well first I would like to invite everyone to look at UNESCO website and select culture, and go to the world heritage, you will see currently there are 136 members belonging to the Intangible Heritage Committee, and the hand gesture
COCHRANE: I believe Cambodia is a member but Thailand is not, is that correct?
PRASERTSRI: Yes that's correct, Cambodia has been a member for some time and Thailand has not applied to be a member of this committee. So at this stage only Cambodian can inscribe the Intangible Heritage, Thailand has to become a member first.
COCHRANE: And for those of us who don't work and operate in this field, what does Intangible Cultural Heritage, what does that really mean?
PRASERTSRI: Well our Intangible Heritage Culture is under threat from disappearing because of the globalisation, and almost every society has intangible heritage. For example oral tradition, telling stories, dance, making festivals or flying kites, or making silk like in China or making batik in Indonesia.
COCHRANE: And of course that became controversial in itself didn't it, as Indonesia and Malaysia squabbled over the ownership of that particular cultural asset...
PRASERTSRI: Yes but the batik in both countries are not exactly the same so I think there's still room for different interpretations.
COCHRANE: What about in this case, are Cambodia and Thailand arguing over something that is the same, or are there any subtle differences?
PRASERTSRI: I think there's some difference, for example in the Thai, they call it the Thai jeeb, which is the hand gesture, the song that accompanies the dance in Thai, while the Cambodian dance the song that accompanies is in their language, so this is the first difference. Second, the dance, the rhythm, and the dance itself is not exactly the same if you study the dance movement very carefully. Even though the names are different.
COCHRANE: Getting back to the UNESCO list for a moment, Cambodia has listed this gesture as part of its Royal Ballet, its traditional dance. If Thailand does join up with this UNESCO list, could it also claim it as part of its heritage, could there be joint ownership of this cultural asset?
PRASERTSRI: That's up to the two countries to decide. But they don't have to be a joint ownership, they can be separate ownership. I don't think there's any restriction it has to be joint ownership.
COCHRANE: So this doesn't necessarily have to be something that divides the two countries, it could actually bring them together?
PRASERTSRI: Yes it should bring them together, in fact I think the last government... it's not the people who are divided, it's politicians who are divided.
COCHRANE: And has there been any reaction from the Cambodian side to Thailand's concerns over the gesture?
PRASERTSRI: I was in Cambodia two weeks ago and I didn't detect any reaction yet because on Cambodian side at this stage they want to mend relations with Thailand, and Thailand wants to mend political relations with Cambodia. So I think they are in a positive mood on both sides.
13 comments:
Thais should inscribe Abhisit
(A)vejjajiva as an intangible cultural geritage as Hakka from China but was born and raised in UK identified as Thai-Chin that had nothing to do with Siam or Khmer culture.
A thousand Chin ethnic claim stake of Siam confusing identity, land of smile but not the King.
Sieam or later call Thailand must look back to theis desent before they clain the old culture with Khmer. You, Thai, cam from South China during Mongoly occupied china neary 100 years in 13th century. When you clain now such culture, then you are absurd, right? Do you beliebe that the whole people on the Globe believe you? hey hey stop to clain that because it is so dump stupid.
Please stop draw distinction when there isn't one. The hand gesture is uniquely Khmer's and tangible. Please stop confuse people and just speak the truth.
Idiot siam, you were slaves and adopted everything from Khmer. Now you want to claim it as yours? Stupid low life sub-human.
Nobody can understand the Siem stupid twisted logic only the Siem themselves!
It is amazing that when these Siem look at their culture and they must first look at Khmer culture!
If Cambodia falls into Thai traps again that is really crazy. I told you, it doesn't matter what Thai government either Abhisit or Yingluck they still claiming stuffs that doesn't belong to them.
Please don't fall into this. Think about national interest first don't think about administration between Thai and Khmer now. Don't let them have the share about this dancing.
We have enough proofs and evidences to not let them have this piece of cake.
Khmer Angkor,
let the Thai claime what ever the want bu we should NOT joint them in any!
this thai lady can't claim the flexible fingers for thailand. the world already know thailand copied from cambodia rich dances and arts works.
If Cambodia just joins Miss.Universe this would never have happened!!!!!!!!!
Thailand can register to be a prostitution as their national heritage since it is already well known throughout the world.
The world also knew about Khmer influences to Thai since the creation of their country. From political view, they have used and still using Khmer Royal words or vocabularies in their Royal court, the political words down to the regular civilians.
We Khmer are the ruler!!!!
KHMER EMPIRE!!!
Foc-Net is a cheater. He cheat people moneys by using poor people as his excuse.
Post a Comment