Strategies Employed by the Locals in in the Process of Nominating Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple to be Inscribed on the World Heritage List

Vithaya Arporn

doi:10.48048/ajac.2021.248959

Authors

Vithaya Arporn School of Languages and General Education, Walailak University,Nakhon Si Thammarat 80160, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.48048/ajac.2021.248959

Keywords:

Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, World Heritage, Participation, local community

Abstract

This study was intended by the overwhelming progress of nominating Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple to be Inscribed on the World Heritage List. Such phenomenon intrigued me to investigate all involving groups in terms of their characteristics, differences from others, interconnection, strategies adopted for the nomination effort, related factors and their impacts on the nomination effort. A qualitative research design was employed through document search, observations, interviews a target group of 43 individuals, divided into two groups, namely the formal and informal. The study results revealed that dynamic of the nomination participation progressed in the midst of conflict between the formal also referred to as the government sector, or the civil society sector, each of which also harbor disagreements within the sector itself. The formal or government sector assumed the most prominent role because of its power and resourceful position. Its lead runs in alignment with the government’s mechanism. However, owning to the fact that its strategies did not significantly emphasize engagement with communities, the communities devised strategies to negotiate with the nomination committee. Despite that, the power over a steering wheel still belonged to the government.

References

Bachek, S. H., Zainudin, H., & Haron, N. A. (2014). Preservation of culture and built heritage in new urban development: A case study on Little India Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur, Malysia In Proceedings of the Conference: International Conference on Humanity, History and Society. (pp.1-6). Place, country: Publisher. Penang, Malaysia: Open Science Research Excellence.

Bongsasilp, B. (2016). World heritage and urban communities in Thailand: Historic City of Ayutthaya, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province and Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Retrieved from https://furnacejournal.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/furnace-article-pat.pdf

Daly, P., & Winter, T. (Ed.). (2012). Routledge handbook of heritage in Asia. New York, USA.: Routledge.

Fong, K. L., Winter, T., Rii, H U., Khanjanusthiti, P. & Tandon, A. (2012). ‘Same Same But Different?’ A roundtable discussion on the philosophies, methodologies, and practicalities of conserving cultural heritage in Asia. (pp. 39-54). In P. Daly and T. Winter. (Eds). Routledge handbook of heritage in Asia. New York, USA.: Routledge.

Hitchcock, M., King, V. T., & Parnwell, M. (Eds). (2010). Heritage tourism in Southesat Asia. Copenhagen, Denmark: NIAS Press.

Hsiao, H. H. M., Foong, H. Y., & Peycam, P. (Eds.). (2017). Citizens, civil society and heritage-making in Asia. Buona Vista, Singapore: ISEAS Publishing.Labadi, S. (2013). UNESCO, cultural heritage, and outstanding universal value: Value-based analyses of the world heritage and intangilbe culural heritage conventions. United Kingdom, USA.: AltaMira Press.

Intasila, P. (2019). Sellers agree to sign an MOU before stricter arrests for violators. Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2302922136410102&id=100000770139657

Pendlebury, J., Short, M., & While, A. (2009). Urban world heritage sites and the problem of authenticity. Cities, 26(6),349–358.

Rongpinij, P. (2015). Guidelines for the Conservation and Development of Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Nakhon Si Thammarat Province And surrounding communities to support the World Heritage registration. (Master's Dissertation, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand).

Provincial Integrated Administrative Committee, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. (2016). New Four-Year Provincial Development Plan (2018-2021), Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand: Secretary Office.

Proust, K. (1993). Public archaeology and the physical legacy of european colonisation in South East Asia. Retrieved from http://www.asha.org.au/pdf/australasian_historical_archaeology/11_04_Proust.pdf

Said, S. Y., Aksah, H., & Ismail, E. D. (2013). Heritage conservation and regeneration of historic areas in Malaysia. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 105(2013), 418–428.

Sing, T. Y. & Yoh, S. (2014). Rehabilitation methods and revitalization strategies in the old inner-city areas of rapid growth cities in Asia a comparison of four cities: Penang, Hanoi, Shanghai, and Tokyo In Proceedings of InternationalSymposium on City Planning. Hanoi, Vietnam.

Steinberg, F. (1996). Conservation and rehabilitation of urban heritage in developing countries. HABITAT INTL, 20(3), 463-475.

Nualmungsor, S. (2012). Progress of Nominating Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple to be Inscribed on the World Heritage List. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AgryQIs1bI&list=PLVDztSmd6-kxGEQ4p8YsfrzADZ4g7K0HR&index=4&t=384s

Sukarakarn, C. (2015). Progress of Nominating Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple to be Inscribed on the World Heritage List. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7soDctMYkw&list=PLVDztSmd6-kxGEQ4p8YsfrzADZ4g7K0HR&index=2

Vicente, R., Ferreira, T. M., Raimundo, J.A., & da Silva. M. (2015). Supporting Urban Regeneration and Building Refurbishment. Strategies for Building Appraisal and Inspection of Old Building Stock in City Centres. Journal of Cultural Heritage, 16(1), 1–14.

Thinnakorn, V. (2018). Improving the landscape to promote value And the importance of

cultural heritage at Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Nakhon Si Thammarat Province to be nominated as a World Heritage Site. Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand: School of Architecture and Design Walailak University.

Waitt, G. (2000). Consuming heritage: Perceived historical authenticity. Annals of Tourism Research, 27(4), 835-862.

interview

Cheauthong, J. (2020, March 1). Personal