What to do about our underwater treasures<\/p>\n
By Amir Sidharta<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Earlier this month, after the Indonesian Navy
\nsuccessfully foiled an attempt to smuggle underwater treasures
\nrecovered from Indonesian waters, State Minister of Social
\nAffairs Anak Agung Gde Agung recommended the preparation of
\nregulations on the preservation of cultural heritage.<\/p>\n
Referring patriotically to our national heritage and history,
\nhe suggested that the seized items be surrendered to the state
\nand placed in museums.<\/p>\n
There is no question that Indonesia's cultural heritage should
\nbe preserved, but Law No. 5\/1992 on cultural heritage already
\ncovers the relevant matters quite comprehensively.<\/p>\n
The minister's comments make him appear unaware of the
\nregulation. In addition, it seems he is uninformed about the
\nactual types of objects that have been recovered and their
\ncultural value.<\/p>\n
He is certainly unaware about the state of museums in this
\ncountry.<\/p>\n
First of all, our museums do not have the necessary resources
\nto be able to accommodate the thousands of objects recovered from
\nthe sea. If they are all placed in our museums, it would not be
\nlong before most would become neglected and damaged.<\/p>\n
Secondly, although known cumulatively as treasures, most of
\nthe items are what is known as \"market ware\", ceramics that were
\ntraded. Hence, they cannot be considered \"museum pieces\".<\/p>\n
The government should collect unique pieces and the best
\nsamples of the recovered items for academic research.<\/p>\n
A selection can be kept and shown in museums. However, the
\nremainder should be utilized for the benefit of the nation in a
\nless conservative manner: they can be publicly sold, and the
\nrevenues can benefit the government.<\/p>\n
This is also not a new idea. Minister of Maritime Exploration
\nand Fisheries Sarwono Kusumaatmadja claimed last January that
\nunderwater treasures can help pay Indonesia's debt. He proposed
\nthe goods could be auctioned through international auction houses
\nto fetch millions of dollars.<\/p>\n
According to Presidential Decree No. 43\/1989, with the
\nexploitation of underwater treasures, the government is entitled
\nto 50 percent of the net (after taxes) profits from the sale of
\nunderwater treasures.<\/p>\n
Indeed, public auctions of the items would be the fairest and
\nmost transparent manner to sell the goods. As they are open and
\npublic, auctions are entirely transparent and completely fair.<\/p>\n
In a Continental auction, in which the successful bid goes to
\nwhoever bids the highest price, the highest possible price for
\nthe piece at the particular time and the particular location
\nwould be reached.<\/p>\n
There is little question that the best way to publicly sell
\nthe recovered underwater treasures is through auctions. By doing
\nso, the best price of the goods will be reached.<\/p>\n
The big question is where the goods should be auctioned. Would
\nLondon or Amsterdam be the best place to auction the goods, or
\nwould it be better off auctioning the pieces in Hong Kong or
\nSingapore? Or would it perhaps be best to auction them back home?<\/p>\n
Recent reports said that some of the recovered items have been
\nillicitly auctioned abroad.<\/p>\n
There is also a report that 43 containers of recovered
\nunderwater treasures were unsuccessfully shipped to Australia,
\nand are now held by Australian customs.<\/p>\n
It is not clear why the goods were shipped to Australia.<\/p>\n
Certainly, there are advantages and disadvantages to
\nauctioning the goods in each location. We have to remember that
\neach location caters to different markets, depending on the
\ncurrent trends and tastes of the particular markets.<\/p>\n
Two items of the same kind might fetch different prices in
\ndifferent locations.<\/p>\n
Hence, it is important to place goods in locations where the
\nmarket for the specific goods is the strongest.<\/p>\n
However, it is also important to consider that the placement
\nof the goods in the best locations could involve high costs and
\nrisks. The goods might have to be transported to the best
\nlocation, insured at premium rates and stored there at high
\ncosts.<\/p>\n
Therefore, this also has to be taken into consideration. The
\nadvantages and disadvantages of placing the goods in one location
\nor the other should be carefully studied before making decisions.<\/p>\n
Specialists will be able to determine the price estimates of
\nthe items in specific markets, and the costs and risks involved
\nin selling them at that particular market can be calculated. In
\nshort, and cost and benefits study should be done.<\/p>\n
Apart from the actual sales values of the lots, sales in each
\nlocation will affect the Indonesian government's fiscal revenues
\nfrom tax and excises in different ways. There are also indirect
\nbenefits to auctioning the goods in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
Although modest by comparison to the auction values of the
\nlots, auctioning the goods in Indonesia will also attract
\nvisitors to the country.<\/p>\n
More importantly, however, it will support a relatively new
\nchain of cultural industries and create much-needed jobs in this
\ncrisis-torn country. This also should be studied and considered
\ncarefully.<\/p>\n
In the end, it seems clear that the best return would be
\nachieved through careful selection. A selection of items might be
\nauctioned in London or Amsterdam, with another batch going under
\nthe hammer in Hong Kong or Singapore. It also seems logical to
\nsimply auction the most commonplace items back home.<\/p>\n
The other big question now is which government office has the
\nauthority over the recovered underwater treasures. Is it the
\nauthority of the Ministry of National Education or the Ministry
\nof Maritime Exploration and Fisheries? What is the interest of
\nthe Office of State Minister of Social Affairs? The Ministry of
\nFinance also has a great interest in the matter.<\/p>\n
Early in March, Minister for Maritime Exploration and
\nFisheries Sarwono Kusumaatmadja said that in coordination with
\nthe ministers of national education and finance, regulations
\nregarding the exploitation of valuable treasures including
\nrecovered underwater treasures will be drafted immediately.<\/p>\n
Since 1989, it has been the National Committee for the
\nRecovery and Exploitation of Treasures from Shipwrecks (Pannas
\nPPBB), under the coordinating minister for political and security
\naffairs, which has authority over underwater sea treasures.<\/p>\n
However, it seems to have changed.<\/p>\n
Sarwono stated later in March that the search for and auction
\nof recovered underwater treasures would be handled by a
\nmanagement bureau involving the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of
\nNational Education, Ministry of Communications and the Ministry
\nof Maritime Exploration and Fisheries. It seems that his
\nmanagement bureau will become a new Pannas PPBB National
\nCommittee which is just as inefficient as the one established
\nunder the New Order government.<\/p>\n
The Navy, which thus far has played a great role in not only
\nthe safeguarding of the treasures but also the exploration for
\nthem, seems to have an interest as well.<\/p>\n
Navy Chief of Staff Adm. Achmad Sutjipto suggested the
\ncommittee be merged under the Ministry of Maritime Exploration
\nand Fisheries.<\/p>\n
It seems inevitable that the authority will involve more than
\none ministry, but the admiral is on the right track: in this day
\nand age, the simpler the better.<\/p>",
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