HERITAGE, DISASTER AND CONFLICT

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In English, it is called contested heritage. In Dutch, it is called beladen erfgoed. In Indonesian, it is called pusaka konflik, at least by Sylvia Agustina, a university teacher from Banda Aceh who graduated from USA and Singapore.

Pusaka konflik is not much addressed yet in Indonesia. This webinar revealed stories from the field that is known to be tough in history with natural disasters and political turmoil: Banda Aceh. Sylvia has been trying to map potentials of contested heritage in the city where she lives and works especially those that relate to the Tsunami in December 2004 and a long battle of GAM (Gerakan Aceh Merdeka-Free Aceh Movement) with the military of the Republic of Indonesia.


I think what Sylvia has been doing is an essential step for the local Acehnese to learn more about themselves. The gigantic natural disaster and the political turmoil were beyond words to describe, but each local Acehnese must have opinions and experiences about them and those are very valuable to document, to record, and to contemplate. The documentation could be presented to the larger public nationally and internationally. And they are probably can be used as mediums for healing and reconciliation.


Sylvia will be happy to receive guidance and assistance on how to proceed further with her contested heritage mapping process. Please contact me if you are willing to help her.



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