Thailand not affected by Cambodia's move to list masked dance as world heritage

BANGKOK, June 7 (TNA) - The Ministry of Culture says that Thailand is not affected by a Cambodian move to seek an endorsement by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) to list its Khon Masked Dance an intangible cultural world heritage. Thai Culture Minister Vira Rojpojchanarat told journalists on Tuesday, before the Cabinet's weekly meeting at Bangkok's Government House, that the Cambodian plan should not affect Thailand because UNESCO's registrations of world cultural heritages are divided into two categories, namely within a country and on similarity among countries. Vira cited as examples previous cases in which UNESCO granted the Intangible Cultural World Heritage status for the Tango to Uruguay, Peru and Argentina and Kimchi, a traditional Korean dish made of seasoned vegetables and salt, first to South Korea and then to North Korea two years later. The minister explained if Cambodia wants to register its Khon Masked Dance on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, Thailand could also do so because the traditional dance is considered a joint culture. The minister noted that the Khon Masked Dance can also be seen in many other countries in the region, including Laos, Myanmar, India and Indonesia. The minister acknowledged, however, that his ministry has no immediate plan to propose Thailand's Khon Masked Dance on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, as his ministry is currently proposing the registrations of Thai food, boxing, the Nora, a classical dance in southern Thailand, and then Khon Masked Dance respectively. (TNA)