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Asia News Network
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Asia News Network
Minister kicks off public discussion on Indonesia's controversial new history books
July 29, 2025 JAKARTA – Culture Minister Fadli Zon has reassured the public that the forthcoming history books 'are not hiding anything' as he launched a public campaign on the project despite concerns past human rights abuses may be whitewashed. Fadli held the first round of discussion on Friday at the University of Indonesia's (UI) main campus in Depok, West Java, and said in his remarks there that the new history books were aimed at taking an 'Indonesia-centric' perspective in updating the country's history. 'This forum is a kickoff for public discussions to show that we are not hiding anything in our history. We can debate it, but we cannot simply leave our history unwritten,' he said in the livestream event. Deflecting concerns of being a rushed project, the minister said the ongoing efforts to rewrite the country's history is '26 years too late'. He noted that the last state-sanctioned revision took place at the start of the Reform era in 1999. The upcoming 10-volume publication will include everything from the latest archaeological findings on early civilizations in the archipelago up to the end of former president Joko 'Jokowi' Widodo's second term in October of last year. The project involves 112 historians from 34 state universities across Indonesia, whom Fadli described as the 'maestros' of their respective fields. 'History cannot be written carelessly. If it is written by an activist, the result will be different. If it is written by a politician, it will also reflect differing political interests. That is why history must be written by qualified historians,' he said. The project has come under fire from activists and independent historians, who fear that the government might be looking to take a revisionist approach by emphasizing only positive legacies of past presidents, including Soeharto, whose authoritarian rule was marked by widespread human rights abuses and systemic corruption. Fadli has also come under heavy criticism for his repeated dismissal of the mass rapes that took place during the May 1998 riots. While Fadli did not provide a specific publication timeline, he said he hoped the books would serve as a 'gift' for the nation's 80th Independence Day on Aug. 17. Restu Gunawan, director general for the protection of culture and tradition at the Culture Ministry, said that, in addition to the event at UI, three more discussions are set to follow in the coming weeks in Lambung Mangkurat University in South Kalimantan, followed by Padang State University in West Sumatra and at Makassar State University in South Sulawesi. 'The books are currently in the editing stage by the volume editors. Hopefully, public input from these forums can help fill in any remaining gaps before it moves on to the general editor for final refinement,' Restu said.
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Why Preah Vihear Temple, Other Ancient Hindu Sites Are At Heart Of Thailand-Cambodia Conflict
Last Updated: The Thailand-Cambodia conflict stems from a border dispute centered on the Preah Vihear Temple, with both nations blaming each other for violating territorial sovereignty. Thailand and Cambodia continue to exchange heavy artillery fire as their worst fighting in more than a decade stretched for a second day on July 25. The continuation comes despite calls from the region and beyond for an immediate ceasefire in an escalating border conflict that has killed at least 16 people. As the situation remains tense, nearly 1 lakh people were evacuated from conflict areas on the Thai side, as the country's military reported clashes from before dawn in the Ubon Ratchathani and Surin provinces, alleging that Cambodia had used artillery and Russian-made BM-21 rocket systems. Meanwhile, Cambodia's Defence Ministry said the Thai jets dropped bombs on a road near the ancient Preah Vihear Temple, which has been a site of past conflicts between the two countries. Cambodian authorities also distributed photos they claimed showed damage caused there, and the country's Culture Ministry said it would pursue justice under international law, since the temple was declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural organisation, and is believed to be a historical legacy of the Cambodian people. Thailand and Cambodia have bickered for decades over the jurisdiction of various undemarcated points along their 817 km (508 mile) land border, with ownership of the ancient Hindu temples Ta Moan Thom and the 11th-century Preah Vihear, central to the disputes. In 1962, the International Court of Justice awarded to Cambodia, the Phnom Penh sovereignty over the Preah Vihear Temple and over a small patch of land surrounding it, but Thailand does not recognise its jurisdiction. Tension escalated in 2008 after Cambodia attempted to list it as a UNESCO World Heritage site, and the development led to skirmishes over several years and at least a dozen deaths. Last month, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet had said his government had filed a new complaint with the UN tribunal over four disputed areas, but Thailand has pushed to seek a solution through a nearly 30-year-old bilateral mechanism. On May 28, a border dispute near Morokot village, in Cambodia's northwestern province of Preah Vihear, left one Cambodian soldier dead. It began when Cambodian troops were conducting a routine patrol along the border and the Thai side opened fire, according to Cambodian officials. The Thai army says that Cambodian soldiers entered the disputed patch of land and opened fire when Thai soldiers approached them to negotiate. On Sunday, Hun Manet, in social media posts, declared that his government will ask the court to rule on the demarcation of several disputed areas, including where the centuries-old Hindu-style Ta Moan Thom, Ta Moan Toch and Ta Kro Bei temples are located. In February, Cambodian troops and their family members entered the Ta Moan Thom temple in disputed territory and sang the Cambodian national anthem, leading to a brief argument with Thai forces. Following last week's incident, both sides called for calm and talks to ease their differences, while reserving the right to use military action to safeguard their sovereignty. On May 29, the two countries' army commanders met to discuss how to avoid more clashes. view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Korea Herald
16-07-2025
- Business
- Korea Herald
Seoul Intl. Book Fair claims end in no charges
Korea Publishers Association cleared in subsidy dispute with Culture Ministry An investigation into the Korean Publishers Association over the Seoul International Book Fair and alleged misuse of government subsidies has been closed with no charges, the KPA said Monday. According to the KPA, the Seoul Jongno Police Station issued a 'no charges filed' decision on July 7 in a case that accused the organization of violating the Subsidy Management Act and criminal statutes, including document forgery and obstruction of business. The case stems from a 2023 complaint filed by the Culture Ministry under then-Minister Park Bo-gyoon, who questioned whether the KPA had concealed revenues from the SIBF and failed to report profits, despite receiving annual government subsidies of up to 1 billion won ($725,000) for the event. The ministry accused the KPA of forming a 'cartel' with the Publication Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (KPIPA), a state-affiliated body overseeing publishing subsidies. It claimed the organizers had redacted or withheld financial details — including fees from overseas participants — and referred the case to police for further investigation in August 2023. Following the complaint, the Culture Ministry slashed 3 billion won in subsidies earmarked for the book fair and international participation projects and barred the KPA from applying for new state-funded initiatives. Starting in 2024, government support for the fair was rerouted through KPIPA to assist individual exhibitors, bypassing the association. However, according to the official police notification, authorities found no evidence that the association had concealed earnings or misused subsidies. Police concluded that financial arrangements for the book fair, including how revenues and expenses were reported, had been pre-negotiated among the Culture Ministry, KPIPA and the KPA. 'There was no misuse of subsidies for purposes outside their original scope,' the KPA said in a statement, citing the outcome of the investigation. 'The findings clearly show that there was no wrongdoing in our management of either the public subsidies or the fair's revenues.' The KPA criticized the ministry's actions as overreach and expressed hope that the newly appointed culture minister under the Lee Jae Myung government would bring renewed support and stability to publishing policy.
Bangkok Post
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
Unesco 'rip-offs' spur probe
The permanent secretary of the Culture Ministry has ordered a probe into allegations swirling online that Cambodia tried to nominate 22 Thai literary works as Unesco Cultural Heritage in 2008. Details shared on Thai social media claimed Cambodian authorities worked on the nomination 17 years ago, and had intended to show off aspects of the submission in Royal Ballet of Cambodia performances. The portfolio of works included royally written pieces and adaptations of local folklore taken from the Ramakien, a Thai edition of the Ramayana written during the reign of Kings Rama I and II, both the work itself and the partial alterations. They also included a collection of works by King Rama II, such as Krai Thong, Sang Thong, and I-nao, and some poets such as Chaophraya Phra Khlang (Hon) (Phra Vessantara) and Sunthorn Phu (Janthakorob). According to the submission, the Cambodian authority claimed to have revived the works during 1979-2002. The allegation has provoked criticism that no objections were made by Thai authorities against the Cambodian proposal, which led to the successful nomination.
Leaders
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Leaders
‘Arts Telling Stories' Exhibition Showcases Cultural Heritage in Madinah
The 'Arts Telling Stories' Exhibition in Madinah provides visitors and residents with a cultural platform that narrates Saudi stories through authentic handicrafts, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The exhibition perfectly aligns with the 'Year of Handicrafts 2025' initiatives launched by the Ministry of Culture to modernize traditional handicrafts and offer a special blend between heritage and innovation. It also aims to strengthen cooperation among institutions and the local community and crystalize the pivotal role of traditional arts in preserving cultural identity. The event features a vast array of handcrafted products that offer vivid images about the identity of the local community. Interestingly, palm-based crafts such as baskets, incense burners, and decorative pieces have mirrored the historical connection between people and palm trees in Madinah. Through special techniques combining both traditional sensibility and modern innovation, the exhibition boasts wooden artwork, such as decorated boxes, vases, and household items. In the lights of this, the event plays a central role in empowering Saudi artisans and supporting the sustainability of handicrafts sector by launching new local and international markets for their creative products. Overall, the 'Arts Telling Stories' Exhibition represents a qualitative leap in the handicrafts sector that has been witnessing incredible growth in the recent years due to the Culture Ministry's ongoing efforts. Related Topics: Diriyah's JAX District Hosts Stunning International Art Exhibition Northern Borders' Exhibition Showcases Creative Legacy 'Redrawing the Boundaries' Exhibition Explores Gulf's Modern Art Evolution Short link : Post Views: 8
