Japanese students try to save Laos Buddha statues

LUANG PRABANG, Laos--More than 10 percent of the Buddha statues in Luang Prabang, an ancient city in Laos whose urban district is designated as a World Heritage Site, have gone missing in the past few years, according to Minobusan University in Minobucho, Yamanashi Prefecture.

According to the Buddhist university, whose students help restore statues in Luang Prabang, 120 Buddha statues are missing. As historical legacies related to the world's heritage are being lost, the Laotian government has begun conservation efforts with support from the university.

The university in 2001 started a survey of the statues, the number of which was unknown, and in 2007 reported to the Laotian government that it had confirmed the presence of 1,174 statues. However, a survey conducted in 2009 revealed that 100 statues were missing from 35 temples. In 2010, another 20 statues were discovered to be missing.

Laotian authorities suspect theft rings stole the statues for resale.

Luang Prabang was the capital city of Lan Xang kingdom, which was established in the 14th century. Buddha statues in Luang Prabang are wooden Theravada Buddhism statues made in the 14th century or later, which are said to have high historical value.

While monks at the temples begin keeping guard over the statues by sleeping at the temples, Minobusan University students distributed brochures at the Luang Prabang National Museum to sound the alarm over the property loss and call for stepping up security in the city.

"I hope to take part in establishing a security system for these historical heritage pieces," said Yoshitaka Suzuki, 26, a researcher and student at the university.

Source: http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20100312TDY03103.htm

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