Save hidden treasures of the sea, Akbar says
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)