Approaches to Cultural Heritage Conservation of the Buddhist Community in Natham Subdistrict, Mueang District, Yala Province

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the approaches to cultural heritage conservation of the Buddhist Community in Natham Sub-district, Mueang District, Yala Province using the qualitative research methods.  Data were collected from related documents and field data were collected through observations and in-depth interviews with 18 key informants consisting of Buddhist monks, villagers in Natham Sub-district and adjacent area and public servants. The data were validated using triangulation and analyzed with descriptive analysis. The cultural heritage in this study referred to Wat Natham, a historical site housing Phra Buddha Saiyat, a reclining Buddha image of Srivijaya Period. Five approaches to conservation found in the study were as follows: 1) Participation in activities to inherit traditions such as a vow making rite, blanketing a robe over Phra Buddha Saiyat, and circumambulating Phra Buddha Saiyat; 2) Transferring         community culture to others inside and outside the education system; 3) Establishing a community cultural center to be a place for local cultural heritage collections and a tourism coordination center; 4) Protecting the cultural area by establishing a protection squad to guard the place at night and when an activity is held; and 5) Environmental protection for the cultural place and promoting it as a tourist attraction. All these approaches are government-supported as it is a government policy to encourage community participation in self-help cultural heritage conservation. Nevertheless, for this area, it is only an ideology; as long as the unrest remains in the three Southern border provinces, Buddhists, a minority group cannot fully fulfill the policy.