Heritage Under Fire: Cultural Heritage Protection in International Operations

Transcription

1 Heritage Under Fire: Cultural Heritage Protection in International Operations LCDR Andrea Argirides, PhD Headquarters Joint Operations Command J3 Branch, Joint Effects J39 Australian Defence Force September 2018, Ulaanbaatar Mongolia

2 Scope of Presentation 1. Definitions. 2. World Heritage Site Mongolia. 3. International Conventions. 4. Examples of destruction of heritage as a weapon of war. 5. Trafficking looted antiquities. 6. Cultural heritage, contingency operations & environmental security. 7. Preservation and protection of cultural heritage. 8. Concluding remarks. 9. Questions for discussion Assyrian relics in Nimrud Iraq, destroyed by Islamic State - March 2015

3 Definition of Heritage architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations of features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science; groups of buildings; groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science; sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and of man, and areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value from the historical, aesthetic, ethnological or anthropological points of view. UNESCO, 1972

4 Tangible Heritage Natural Heritage - encompasses the countryside and natural environment, including flora and fauna examples of natural heritage in Mongolia Cultural Property entails tangible heritage such as historic structures that is, castles; churches, temples, mosques; nature preserves; zoos; museums; libraries; works of art, sculpture, archeological and historical sites and monuments - examples shown below

5 Archaeological Heritage Palmyra Syria Bamyian Valley, Afghanistan Babylon, Baghdad Iraq Historic buildings of Timbuktu

6 World Heritage Site - Mongolia UNESCO s newest World Heritage Site: Petroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian Altai

7 International Conventions The World Heritage Convention, for the preservation for world and natural heritage, 1972 The Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict,1954 The UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and The UNESCO General Conference for Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property, 1970 The European Convention for the protection of archaeological heritage, 1969 UNIDROIT Convention on stolen or illegally exported cultural objects, 1995

8 Destruction of Heritage as a Weapon of War Ancient Umayyad Mosque, Old City of Aleppo Ancient relief, Nimrud Iraq Roman amphitheatre, Palmyra Syria Bamyian Buddhas Afghanistan

9 Daesh Destruction of Cultural Heritage Hatra Palmyra Mosul Museum Assyrian reliefs

10 Temples Bel and Baalshamin Destroyed

11 Looted Antiquities for Sale Afghan antiquities for sale at a bazar in Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan 2010 Items pictured here were selling from $US60-$240 [Photos: Courtesy, Dr Laurie Rush, Fort Drum NY]

12 eritage, Contingency Operations & Environmental Security Possible considerations include, but not limited to: Experts invited to participate in contingency operational planning Education & training military forces on cultural property protection Access to comprehensive information about cultural heritage sites Assessing military activity that could impact on cultural heritage CIMIC acquiring CPP expertise and increase dialogue with local authorities and communities Cultural heritage protection should be seen as a preventative conservation strategy, adopting mitigating measures to limit and/or prevent damage + +

13 Preservation & Protection of Cultural Heritage Serious consideration must be given to include the protection and preservation of cultural heritage in the planning phase of contingency operations. This can significantly contribute to environmental security, protecting national identity and achieving mission success. The presenter inspecting Royal Tombs at Ur, southern Iraq, May 2008 Blue Shield Emblem

14 Concluding Remarks We all have an obligation to humanity to protect cultural heritage, for those who inhabit those countries that are affected by conflict and for all mankind now and in the future. Environmental Security Protects National Identity

15 Questions for Discussion 1. What is your definition of heritage? 2. Does cultural heritage matter? 3. Why is heritage important for national identity? 4. What cultural heritage issues need to be considered when planning for operations? 5. What are the main threats to cultural heritage? Plaque outside the Kabul Museum Afghanistan May 2013