This presentation was presented for reporting a progress of the Thai National Committee on Memory of the World in the MOW Awareness-Raising and Advocacy Workshop at Bayview Park Hotel, Manila, Philippines during March 1-3, 2010.
Country Report of the Thai National Committee on Memory of the World
1. Country Report
of The Thai National Committee on
Memory of the World Programme of UNESCO
Rachabodin Suwannakanthi
National Electronics and Computer Technology Center
Training Workshop on MOW Awareness-Raising and Advocacy
for National MOW Committee and Young Associates in Asia and the Pacific
1-3 March 2010, Bayview Hotel, Manila
2. Contents
• Background and Term of Reference
• National Committee and Sub-Committee
• Activities
• Conclusion
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3. Background
• Thailand has been participating in the Memory of
the World Programme of UNESCO since 1992
• The first Thai National Committee on the Memory
of the World Programme of UNESCO was founded
on 1993
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4. Background
The current committee has been
approved in December 2008 and
Professor Khunying Maenmas Chavalit
was appointed chair of the committee.
Professor Khunying Maenmas Chavalit
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5. Terms of Reference
The Thai National Committee on the Memory of the World has
responsibility for the overall management of the program in
Thailand and
• To coordinate and propose nominations to the
International Memory of the World Register
• To work in close collaboration with the Regional Memory
of the World Committee
• To maintain the National Memory of the World Register.
• To raise the awareness of and promotes the Memory of
the World Program in Thailand
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6. The Thai National MOW Committee
Ministry of Education
Ministry of Culture
Ministry of Science and Technology
Institutions
Individuals
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7. Types of committee members
Advisors
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture
Professor Dr. Adul Vichiancharoen
Secretary General of the Thai National Commission for UNESCO
Committee members
- Professor Khunying Maenmas Chavalit, Chair
- Director-General of the Fine Arts Department, Vice Chair
- Professor Dr. Prasert Na Nagara, Vice Chairman of the National Historical Research Committee and Member of Royal Institute
- Mrs.Savitri Suwansathit, Advisor Ministry of Culture, Former Deputy Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education
- Dr. M.R. Rujaya Abhakorn, Historian, Former Director, Chiang Mai University Library
- Miss Kongkaew Weeraprajak, Oriental Language Specialist, National Library
- Mr.Term Meetem, Oriental Language Specialist, National Library
- Director of the National Electronics and Computer Technology Center
- Director of the National Library of Thailand
- Director of the National Archives of Thailand
- Director of the Literature and History Division, Fine Arts Department, Ministry of Culture
- Director of Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn Anthropology Center
- Dr.Prachark Wattananusit, Librarian, Former Deputy Director, National Library of Thailand
- Miss Korapin Thaweeta, Archivist of National Archives, Secretary
Miss Wilasinee Thabuengkarn, Administrative Officer of Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organization Regional Centre
for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SEAMEO–SPAFA), Assistant Secretary
- Miss Wassana Ngam-Duang-Jai, Librarian, National Library of Thailand, Assistant Secretary
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- Representative of the National Commission for UNESCO, Assistant Secretary
8. The Thai National MOW Sub Committee
Sub-Committee on Thai Memory of the World Register
- Established on October 7, 2008
- To advise on the formulation and maintaining
the Thai Memory of the World Register.
- To cooperate with government and private owners of
valuable documents and to advise the owners to preserve
documents and to provide the access to the public.
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9. The Thai National MOW Sub Committee
Sub-Committee on Planning for the Preservation
and Promotion of the epigraphic archives of Wat Pho
- Established on October 7, 2008
- To provide access to digital inscription archives of Wat Pho
- To define a preservation plan for maintenance and safety of
the original stone inscription
- Planning for the preservation and promotion of the
inscription archives of Wat Pho to public
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10. Nomination
Three nominations from Thailand were selected for inclusion in
the Memory of the World World Register
• In 2003 - The King Ram Khamhaeng Inscription
• In 2007 - Wat Phra Chetuphon inscription
• In 2008 - The Archival Documents of King Chulalongkorn
Transformation and Modernization of Siam (1568-1910) and
recommended for inclusion in the Memory of the World
Register in 2009.
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11. Nomination
2003 2007
The King Ram Khamhaeng Inscription Wat Phra Chetuphon inscription
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12. Activities
• National Celebration
– On March 31, 2008, the
ceremony of presenting
the UNESCO MOWCAP
Certificate of Inscription
of the Epigraphic
Archives of Wat Pho on
the Regional Register
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13. Activities
• National Network Seminar
– Organized 6 National
Network Seminars since
2003
– About 200 participants
joined in each seminar
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17. Issues and Concerns
• Raising awareness - Lack of awareness
among the public at large. Therefore more
concerted and coordinated efforts among the
public and private sectors is necessary
• Promotional – Continuous promotion and
using an ICT for promotion to ensure its
growth and development.
• Digital Preservation - Selecting the right
digital technology and define standard of
data and procedures for preservation which
is affordable to sustain 17
18. Conclusion
• The work of the Thai National Committee on Memory of the
World is fully supported by the government.
• Thai National Committee on Memory of the World has
responsibility for managing, raising the awareness of and
promoting the Memory of the World Program in Thailand.
• As well as working in close collaboration and coordinate with
the government, private sector or private owners of valuable
documents for preserving original documents and propose
nominations to the International Memory of the World
Register.
• ICT will be a mechanism for long term preservation and
providing a public access. 18