(6/29/2012)
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has finally ratified the Subak irrigation system in Bali and including it on the word heritage list during its just concluded 36th assembly in St. Petersburg, Russia.
As reported by the National News Agency Antara, the decision, reached by UNESCO on Friday, June 29, 2012, officially declared the subak irrigation and water distribution systems characterized by the picturesque rice terraces of western Bali as playing a central role in preserving Balinese culture.
The chief information officer at the Indonesian Embassy in Moscow, M. Aji Surya, who attended the UNESCO assembly, said that the battle for the inclusion of the Subak system on UNESCO’s World Heritage list has taken 12 years before it successful conclusion in St. Petersburg,
The Deputy Minister for Education and Culture, Windu Nuryanti, expressed her delight on the acceptance of the Subak system as part of the world’s cherished world heritage by UNESCO. Also on hand in Russian to hear the happy news was the regent of Badung A.A. Gede Agung and the regent of Gianyar Tjokorda Oka Artha Ardhana Sukawati.
Continuing, Windu expressed her thanks to all the countries that supported Indonesia’s efforts at UNESCO, saying, “This is a very historical event.”
Windu explained that the Subak system possesses “outstanding universal values” - part of a living cultural system still in operation in Bali.
Bali Subak system joins a list of other UNESCO World Heritage Sites and objects in Indonesia that include batik textiles, Keris (traditional daggers), the Hindu Prambanan temple, angklung musical instruments and karinding musical flutes from West Java.
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