The proposed monument law is not liked even by the monument institute

Prague - The proposed monument protection bill is not favored even by the most competent institution in the country, the National Heritage Institute (NPÚ). The current wording of the draft, which may still undergo changes according to the Ministry of Culture, does not improve the possibility of protection, knowledge, and preservation of heritage sites, overly liberalizes the exercise of heritage care, and resigns from its professional aspect.
    NPÚ, which is a contributory organization of the ministry, has published its objections to the draft proposal on its website. According to them, the law was prepared without significant input from heritage care experts; however, according to Ministry of Culture spokesperson Jan Cieslar, NPÚ director Pavel Jerie was an external member of the commission preparing the law.
    The law, in its draft proposal, does not eliminate the long-criticized so-called dualism. This means that NPÚ's expert opinions are merely advisory, and executive power lies with the heritage departments of local governments. According to NPÚ, however, the law would convert a significant portion of the agenda from dualism to monism—since it excludes the obligation of expert participation from NPÚ for a substantial part of interventions on heritage sites.
    The proponents argue that NPÚ is overwhelmed with requests from owners who want to modify their heritage sites. According to them, such proceedings are often merely formal. Critics of the law fear that the absence of expert opinion will significantly reduce the quality of heritage care.
    "This step creates a fertile environment for clientelism, the purchasing of expert opinions from investor-paid experts, or the projection of local government interests into the state administration agenda," says NPÚ, and therefore categorically disagrees with the proposed change.
    According to them, the prerequisite for the success of such a potential change is "a profound improvement in the qualifications of officials in the authorized municipalities. So far, the level of their achieved education and other qualifications for such serious decisions is considerably uneven."
    "If the system is to have a declared dualism, it is necessary to at least maintain the possibility for NPÚ to initiate a review of erroneous decisions," says NPÚ. However, for this to happen, the institute must be informed about issued administrative decisions—something the law does not account for.
    The institute is not the only organization unhappy with the law. From the beginning, it has been criticized by the Association of Professional Heritage Care Workers (SPPPP). The Old Prague Club and restorers from the Academy of Fine Arts have also joined. Besides the preserved dualism, restorers are unhappy with the rejection of the establishment of a chamber of restorers. Today, the ministry grants permission to restore heritage sites.
    The plan to rewrite the list of cultural heritage sites over the next ten years is under criticism from all sides; opponents of the law claim it cannot be accomplished, and the number of Czech heritage sites will decrease.
    SPPPP stated at its general assembly a few days ago that the draft law not only does not bring improvement but "preserves and further deepens the shortcomings that are destroying heritage care."
    According to the association, the law would further strengthen the authority of local governments at the expense of the state. "The trend initiated by the reform of public administration in 2003, whose impact significantly limited the influence of the state on the protection of its cultural heritage, drives the draft law to a state where its application in practice would mean the absolute suppression of the possibility of functional protection of the evidence of our past and the destruction of the last remnants of state heritage care," said Dana Novotná, chairwoman of the association, in a statement to ČTK.
    According to her, the proposal is a manifestation of the absence of a long-term vision and awareness of continuity and contradicts the principles common in culturally advanced countries.
    The draft proposal was under public consultation until the end of May; comments are now being addressed, and it can then go to the government. Minister Václav Jehlička would like to submit it to parliament by March 31, 2009.