Preservation of Mes Aynak: A Plea from WFBY : หน้า 13/46

WORLD FELLOWSHIP OF BUDDHIST YOUTH 61/6 Benajamin Park, Sukhumvit 24 Bangkok, Thailand 10110 Tel +66 87 502 6358 Fax +662 534 0270 November 13th, 2012 Our Ref: WFBY 36/2555 Mr Gwang-Jo Kim DIRECTOR UNESCO Bangkok Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education Mom Luang Pin Malakul Centenary Building Prakanong, Klongtoey Bangkok, Thailand 10110 Excellency, We received the plea from people around the world, who care for the destiny of the ancient Buddhist remains at Mes Aynak, which is scheduled for copper mining in December 2012. The 3,300-year-old priceless cultural heritage site will be permanently erased from human history in exchange for a commercial gain. Mes Aynak is in an already fragile condition, and it can never be substituted with copper tubes and wires. As a Buddhist organization, we hereby submit our request for this copper mining project to be canceled. We also demand that Mes Aynak to be excavated immediately on the list of Endangered Sites and the World Heritage. This mining project will destroy the only remaining artifacts, which connects the chapters of history between the ancient and modern worlds on the Silk Road forever. We convey our plea to UNESCO to preserve this cultural heritage for our future generation. Very Truly Yours Dr. Pomncha Pinyapong President