via New Mandala, 28 February 2022: Dr Natali Perason’s take on the case of the HMAS Perth, a sunken Australian World War II ship in Indonesian waters which was looted, and recent discussions about its future.
Contrary to suggestions that Indonesia plans to exploit Perth’s legacy, there is in fact a keen interest in Indonesia, and Banten, in learning more about Perth. Last year, tertiary-level students from across Indonesia came together to learn more about Perth within the context of Indonesia’s underwater cultural heritage. This week, Jakarta’s Marine Heritage Gallery will run an awareness raising activity on to commemorate the 80th anniversary and introduce Perth to the next generation of school-aged children.
It is futile to imagine a scenario in which Perth’s destruction was avoided. At the same time, the salvage of Perth offers a salutary lesson in what is needed—proactive engagement, people-to-people connections, a willingness to develop mutual trust and respect—to avoid the destruction of other Australian warships lost outside territorial waters.
Looking forward, engaging local communities is essential if Perth is to be protected for the future. This is not about asking people to police the wrecks on behalf of Australia and the United States of America. Instead, it is about raising awareness of the significance of Perth to Indonesia’s history, and creating opportunities for locals to develop their own relationship with the wreck. Australians care deeply about this wreck and the men who died when it sank; if Indonesians feel the same way, Perth’s chances of future protection and preservation will be doubled.
Source: Whose history, whose future? Creating a new legacy of shared maritime heritage – New Mandala
