Protection for ethnic heritage (China)

SCMP ^ | December 20, 2001 | RAY CHEUNG

[super175]

Beijing will introduce a new law next year to protect China's ethnic minorities and traditional culture. The legislation will provide funds for the protection of China's ethnic minority cultural heritage such as customs, folk literature, songs and dances, traditional operas and handicrafts, China Daily reported yesterday.

Protection of ethnic folk culture has been one of the main topics at a three-day symposium co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture, the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee of the National People's Congress and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Beijing is worried that ethnic minority customs and culture will fall victim to the nation's massive modernisation and economic liberalisation.

"There are too many new things going on in the world now. People can't read their traditional writing and young people can't speak their languages," Bei Xinwen, deputy director of Ministry of Culture's Educational Centre said.

Another threat is the commercialisation of ethnic culture, such as dance performances, to suit tourists.

Representatives from Latin America and Africa were also at the symposium.

[rmlew]

This reminds me of the Soviet consitution which protected individual rights. It is a sham!
This is an attempt by the Han Chinese Communists to creat Potempkin villages and other shams to hid their genocide against non-Chinese peoples.