Why have the support tools for relic protection expired but cannot be purchased?

VHO - The Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center explained that the support tools for the monument protection force had expired and were revoked, and had not been purchased before the incident at Thai Hoa Palace.

Mr. Hoang Viet Trung provided answers to the press regarding the violation of the Nguyen Dynasty throne. Photo: S. THUY

On the afternoon of May 30, at the regular press conference of the Hue City People's Committee, Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center, responded to the press regarding the damage to the national treasure, the Nguyen Dynasty Throne.

Mr. Trung said that after the incident, the Center established a working group to review the restrictions, security and safety procedures and plans that have been implemented over the past decades.

Currently, the Center is assigned to manage and coordinate the management of more than 40 relic sites widely distributed in Hue city. In particular, the unit has arranged security forces at key points in more than 20 relic sites; especially Hai Van Quan relic site is quite far away, bordering Da Nang city, the center is arranging 8 security guards on duty.

The Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center also confirmed that the support tools for the security forces at Hue Monuments have expired and been revoked. Since April, the Center has had a policy to purchase support tools.

However, to be able to purchase, one must be trained in the use of weapons, explosives and support tools according to the provisions of Decree 149 of the Ministry of Public Security .

Tourists visit Thai Hoa Palace, Hue Imperial City. Photo: S. THUY

“The city police have issued a training plan for early June. We will send 25 to 30 people to participate in the training. After completing the training and obtaining the certificate, we will immediately purchase support tools. We will purchase them wherever the authorities allow, basically electric batons,” said Mr. Hoang Viet Trung.

The scope of the area, scope of work, and number of antiquities and artifacts that the Center is managing are relatively large compared to other provinces and cities in the country. However, through review, there are still many shortcomings in handling emergency situations and ensuring security and safety at relic sites; especially in the plan to protect national treasures.

In the near future, when the Law on Cultural Heritage takes effect from July 1, along with Decrees, Circulars and guidelines, there will be relatively specific and detailed regulations on the protection of artifacts, antiques, especially national treasures.

According to Mr. Hoang Viet Trung, the national treasures at the Hue heritage site are very diverse (bronze, wood, stone, jade, fabric, etc.), each type has a different type of protection. Up to now, the unit has basically built a master plan to report to the Hue City People's Committee based on current regulations and the 2024 Law on Cultural Heritage.

In particular, focusing on the following contents: strengthening facilities, applying technology; training security guards to use support tools, handling emergency situations; arranging forces, dividing tourist flows; considering establishing a smart monitoring and control center...

Source: https://baovanhoa.vn/van-hoa/vi-sao-cong-cu-ho-tro-cho-bao-ve-di-tich-da-het-han-nhung-chua-the-mua-sam-139033.html