Fadli Zone emphasizes cultural heritage not just a remnant in the past

Jakarta -The Indonesian Ministry of Culture in collaboration with the Western Sumatra Provincial Government (Provincial Government of West Sumatra) held the second edition of the ‘We Are Site Managers’ International Symposium (WAS) that took place from 23-28 August 2025 in Sawahlunto City, Western Sumatra. Menbud Ri Fadli Zon opens this activity and emphasizes that cultural heritage is not just a remnant of the past, but an important foothold in building a future rooted in values, history and identity. “Today we are not just in a city. We are in a living monument, a giant archive that sees the toughness, dreams, hard work and human dedication,” Fadli said in a written statement on Sunday (8/24/2025). Browse to continue with the content “Welcome to Sawahlunto, a history stage where civilization has been tested over time,” he continued. This symposium was held at the middle of the Ombilin Coal Heritage Landscape, a World Heritage Site recognized by UNESCO as an important case study and life laboratory. “Every heirloom, including the heritage of the Ombilin coal mining that is host today, has a long journey and transformation. As the oldest coal mine in Southeast Asia, this site is full of oppression, forced labor (chain) and the Dutch colonial exploitation in Indonesia,” says Fadli. But now Sawahlunto has been transformed into a historic city of meaning, the result of cultural transformation and innovation maintained. Fadli reminded that cultural heritage is not a silent memory, but a mirror of a civilization that keeps moving and developing. According to Fadli, the challenges of cultural heritage in the modern era are even more complicated. He mentions that although the chain of colonialism is physically released, the world today offers new forms of invisible ‘chains’, namely globalization that has culture uniforms and the most dangerous, the loss of awareness of his own history. This is true, ongoing fadli, the role of managers of the world hero areas is very important. Fadli emphasized that site managers act not only as physical guards of buildings and artifacts, but as ideologists and thinkers who work directly in the field. “They have the responsibility to change the heritage website of the selfie into a reflection space, where the younger generation can learn, ask, understand and be inspired by the struggle and heritage of their ancestors,” Fadli said. Fadli also said that the Indonesian government has placed culture as the basis of national development. “In the framework of the development agenda after 2030, culture will be an important element in answering different global challenges. Indonesia is not only committed to strengthening its presence on a World Heritage Card, but also wants to make itself the ashes of the world civilization, where the noble values ​​of the past are re -read,” Fadli said. Before the participants in the symposium, Fadli invited all parties to make this forum an open booking room, the best exchange to do the practice and networks. He emphasized the importance of making this meeting a starting point for a new and sustainable cooperation. The highlight of this activity is the launch of ‘Sawahlunto Document’, an action document that will be a strategic guide for future heritage management. This document is designed as a practical and adaptable action guide, not only for Indonesia, but is also expected to inspire the global heritage community. Fadli expressed its great hope for the ‘Sawahlunto document’ that will be introduced as the highlight of this symposium. He said the document is not only a final report, but an intellectual manifesto of World Heritage Conservationists, a declaration that maintaining heritage means that the dignity, common sense and sustainability of civilization are maintained. With the implementation of WASSM and the introduction of ‘Sawahlunto Document’ as a tangible manifestation of collaboration, Indonesia by the Ministry of Education and Culture hopes that this symposium is the collective ideas and actions that can inspire the world, not only as a memory is maintained, but also as a guideline for a sustainable future. Meanwhile, Mayor Sawahlunto Riyanda Puttra expressed his deep appreciation for the confidence Sawahlunto City gave as the host of this symposium, which was previously held in Penang, Malaysia. Furthermore, he said Sawahlunto is a small city in the heart of Western Sumatra that has cultural wealth and extraordinary history, the heritage of the world’s recognized industrial revolution by the determination of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2019 The series of symposiums began with a welcome banquet at the Governor of the Western Kayu Tanam Station, followed by a number of a number of places, such as Kayu Tanam station, result station, and Minangkabau Traditional Village ‘Padang Ranah Tanah Bato’ in Sijunjung Regency recorded in the UNESCO World Heritage Heritage. The activity was then focused in the area of ​​a heritage of Ombilin Sawahlunto coal mine, including mining sites and mining cities in Sawahlunto City. The participants not only participated in the panel discussion sessions that discussed important issues in the management of cultural heritage, such as the preservation of industrial heritage, community involvement, identity and interpretation of heritage, to ram pricycover management, but also made a field visit to dive the traces of the life of the previous mining community. This agenda contains nostalgic journeys with old locomotives, visits to the museum and the exploration of mining cities and their changes to this day. Participants and panel speakers come from various well -known countries and institutions, including representatives from UNESCO, Icomos Indonesia, as well as terrain managers from a number of countries in the world, namely from Saudi Arabia, China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan, Iceland, Iceland, Britain, the Netherlands, also from Indonesia. For information, this event was also attended by the Mayor of Sawahlunto Riyanda Putra; Deputy Mayor of Sawahlunto Jeffry Hibatullah; Regional Secretary of Sawahlunto City Rovanly Abdams; President Director of Pt Bukit Asam, TBK. Arsal Ismail; Head of the Western Sumatra Provincial Cultural Office Jephrinal Arifin; and head of Sawahlunto Hilmed City Culture Office. Meanwhile, the attendance of Fadli, including the Director General of Diplomacy, Promotion and Culture Culture Endah Tjahani Dwirini Retno Astuti; Director of UNDRI culture promotion; Mardisontori Cultural Cooperation Director; and Head of Cultural Conservation Center for Regional III of Nurmatias of Western Sumatra Province. (Akn/Ega)