Phra Borommathat pagoda in Thai South proposed as new World Heritage

BANGKOK, September 26 (TNA) - Thailand is seeking World Heritage listing by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) for Phra Borommathat pagoda in the country's southern Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Nakhon Si Thammarat Governor Viroj Jiwarangsan met experienced archaeologists, including Tarapong Srisuchart, Director of the Fine Arts Department's Office of Archaeology under the Thai Ministry of Culture, and representatives of many agencies concerned in the province on Wednesday to prepare documents for the nomination of Phra Borommathat pagoda at the Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan Temple. Tarapong acknowledged that the temple has already been put in a preliminary list of the UNESCO pending World Heritage listing, and that the prepared documents for the nomination of the pagoda covers its qualifications, description, conservation, management and protection, as well as evidence including photographs. Apart from preparing for the documents, which was set to be complete within 3-4 months, Tarapong said that the team of archaeologists will also conduct a field survey to prepare the nomination. The governor suggested his provincial authorities concerned to seek support from the World Heritage Fund in Paris to demonstrate their serious intention for the World Heritage listing, noting that the fund will, probably, grant 5,000 US dollars as financial support or assign an expert to give useful advice. According to the provincial governor, representatives of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) will also conduct a field survey secretly and after the evaluation by the ICOMOS, the documents and opinions of consultants will be reported to the UNESCO's World Heritage Committee for further consideration. The governor assessed that the issue should reach the UNESCO committee in its 37th meeting in Cambodia, scheduled for June 17-27, 2013. (TNA)