It is a project that feeds strong concerns. The Taliban have launched the construction of a tourist complex a few meters from the cliff that houses the statues of the Buddhas of Bamiyan, in Afghanistan, reports The Guardian. According to archaeologists and experts, this could cause permanent damage to this fragile and precious World Heritage site.
The goal of the Taliban is to “rebuild” a historic bazaar, which was destroyed during the civil war in the 1990s. The area will thus become a tourist center with restaurants, guest houses, parking lots, public toilets and handicraft shops. and groceries.
One of the greatest treasures of Afghanistan
However, this ruined bazaar is itself a historical site that could stand on even older ruins. And above all, it is also close to the cliff that houses the caves of the Buddhist monasteries, one of the greatest treasures of Afghanistan.
“This old bazaar is in the archaeological buffer zone of the World Heritage Site and UNESCO has never been in favor of the reuse of this place,” he declared with the guardian a diplomat specializing in heritage issues in Afghanistan, who asked to remain anonymous.
“Rather, these buildings are located in the middle of an archaeological zone, and the buildings themselves are somehow part of the heritage of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its reconstruction is therefore delicate. he completes.
New influx of tourists and vehicles
In 2001, the Taliban destroyed the two giant statues that had dominated the valley for more than a millennium. Following the destruction, Mullah Omar said he was “proud of all the Taliban who participated in the destruction of this unholy horror synonymous with a religion for degenerates.”
On the other hand, the niches where they were located, as well as the frescoes and other remains that have survived, continue to give the site a heritage importance of humanity.
The main road through Bamiyan was rerouted several years ago to limit vibrations caused by traffic. This new Taliban project would bring a large influx of people and vehicles back to a fragile, officially designated protected area.
“The caravanserais should be used as guest houses, for tourists to spend the night there, and as places to display local handicrafts, for the provision of public toilets and parking lots,” said Mawlawi Saifurrahman Mohammadi, provincial director of information and culture. .
Unesco not consulted and concerned
Mawlawi Saifurrahman Mohammadi was speaking at an opening attended by senior Taliban officials, including Bamiyan Governor Abdullah Sarhadi. On this occasion, they placed the first stones to symbolize the beginning of the work.
Mohammadi said that several strict construction controls were carried out to respect the fragility of the site. These include limiting single story buildings, restricting the use of concrete, and controlling the type of stone and plaster used.
He added that the project had been approved by UNESCO. “The central government negotiated with UNESCO and they gave us guidelines on how to proceed,” he said. But UNESCO, which has monitored World Heritage sites including Bamiyan for decades, said it had not been consulted about the project and had not given its consent for the “reconstruction” of the bazaar.
“Unesco was not questioned or associated with this project, which is located in the heart of the archaeological zone and could be problematic for the proper conservation of the World Heritage site,” it said in a statement.
Recover “stolen land”
Governor Sarhadi said he decided to start the reconstruction after shop owners asked for it. They said their land was stolen when it was classified as a heritage area and reconstruction was prohibited.
“We shouldn’t allow people to have their land stolen here,” he said. “People couldn’t get their (legitimate) property back, now is the time to get it back.”
Source: BFM TV
