Save hidden treasures of the sea, Akbar says

JAKARTA (JP): The country needs to issue a new maritime law and regulation protecting its marine archaeological property from plundering, House of Representatives Speaker Akbar Tandjung said on Friday.

Speaking at the opening of a limited exhibition on antique ceramics at the National Archives, Akbar said the country long overlooked its maritime sector and lost valuable assets to unscrupulous local and foreign companies.

"Those companies have generated millions of dollars from our hidden treasures, and they have never reported their finds to the government."

The law and regulation governing cultural property state that finders of archaeological treasures and other cultural property are obliged to report the matter to the National Police or other related agencies.

They also stipulate that 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale of the finds must go to the Indonesian government.

The displayed items at the National Archives consist of hundreds of ancient ceramics salvaged from a Chinese shipwreck in the waters of Belanakan, off Subang, West Java.

The priceless ceramics, salvaged jointly by private company Lautan Mas, France's Comex S.A and the Indonesian Navy, consist of hundreds of bowls and plates believed to date back to the later part of the Sung dynasty in the 13th century. Also included are items from Thailand and Vietnam.

Director of Lautan Mas Andy Asmara said the salvage operation began last August and was ongoing.

"There are many more ceramics and other goods in the shipwreck," said Andy, also chairman of Indonesian Treasure, Recovery and Development Board.

The company previously salvaged ceramics from a Chinese shipwreck in the waters of Maluku. The findings dated to the Ming dynasty, which ruled from the late 14th century to the 17th century.

All the items recovered from the Belanakan and Maluku waters will be auctioned at Christie's in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

"We will submit 50 percent of the proceeds from the sale to the government, and will present dozens of rare items to the National Museum," said Andy. (raw)