As reported by Lao Dong Newspaper, on May 24, at Thai Hoa Palace (Hue Imperial City), Ho Van Phuong Tam (born in 1983, residing in Huong Long Ward, Phu Xuan District, Hue City) committed an act of violating national treasures - the throne of the Nguyen Dynasty. Despite being reminded by the security guard, the subject continued to invade the throne display area, scream and broke the left armrest of the throne.
Difficulties of the relic protection force
According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh - Permanent Vice Chairman of Hue City People's Committee, immediately after the incident, the city directed the Hue Monuments Conservation Center (Center) and related units to review the management and protection work and have urgent solutions at key relic sites and areas with valuable exhibits.
Assign the Center the responsibility to coordinate with the Department of Culture and Sports to develop plans to protect national relics, treasures, and valuable artifacts in accordance with the provisions of law.
The local government also requested relevant units to increase training on professional work for direct security forces at relic and heritage sites. Strengthen propaganda and mobilization work so that people and communities can join hands to preserve and protect the precious assets of the nation that exist in the area.
Regarding security work, Mr. Le Cong Son - Deputy Director of the Center said that the center's security force from the Thai Hoa Palace area to Kien Trung Palace consists of 11 people taking turns on duty. Thai Hoa Palace alone has 2 security guards on duty to supervise and serve tourists.
At the time of discovering Tam crossed the protective barrier to climb the throne, 2 relics defenders immediately followed this person, notifying the security force around it to support and the police newspaper. Receiving the news, the police offered to protect the monument to be careful, the mind of the mental defense of the weapon could cause injury and murder.
Mr. Son also said that this was a rare incident, for the first time in the center, after the incident, there were many lessons in the protection of the relics: "The center has thoroughly grasped the security forces to have backup plans. Must observe the abnormal manifestations of customers from buying admission tickets to monitor immediately, and report to the strengthening force support force," Mr. Son said.
Mr. Son said that previously, the protective force of the relic was equipped with special protection support tools such as electric batons, rubber batons, and rubber bullets. However, the above support tools have been revoked according to the new regulations.
"In the near future, the center will continue to recommend to protect the use of these support tools. Because there are few security guards in the center, the area is large. Without support tools, with two hands gone, it would be difficult for the security guards to handle the situation as it has just happened" - Mr. Son informed.
Finding a plan to protect the relic
According to the Center's leaders, after the incident, the unit immediately deployed a number of urgent solutions, while developing sustainable, long-term solutions. In fact, at Thai Hoa Palace, the Center has equipped a system of dozens of surveillance cameras and alarm systems (usually turned on at night), however, through this national treasure encroachment, there will be more fundamental and strict solutions.
Previously, there were opinions suggesting making a glass cabinet to protect the throne. However, this is not suitable, because national treasures are not just a single artifact but a whole system, from top to bottom, in the overall heritage space.
For example, Thai Hoa Palace is a heritage space. If a 1m8 fence is built to protect it, it will affect the value of this space. The complex of Hue Monuments is very large, so all plans for protecting and displaying artifacts need to be built in a way that is both compulsory and complies with legal regulations and meets practical conditions.
"In the near future, at Thai Hoa Palace where the throne is located, we have a plan to set up a virtual fence system using artificial intelligence. This system will block off areas that need to be protected and people will not be able to access them, if anyone is inside, a continuous warning will be issued, the Center's leader informed.
In addition, to prevent similar incidents, in the coming time, the Center will develop a plan to strictly ensure security and safety in the heritage area in general and for artifacts, antiques... especially national treasures.
Focus on solutions such as: strengthening security equipment and support tools for security forces; strengthening protection, training on handling security situations, early detection and prevention of suspected phenomena.
