JAKARTA (AFP) — Indonesia is negotiating the return of an ancient Javanese stone that was first taken by a British colonialist in the 1800s and is now held by a family trust in Scotland.
The Sangguran stone, a column dated 928 AD and inscribed with ancient Javanese characters, was taken from its site near the modern-day town of Malang in East Java in 1812, said Hadi Untoro Drajat of the culture ministry.
The stone, which weighs almost four tonnes and was installed to mark the ancient Sangguran village as a reserve area, is now being held by the Minto Trust, a family trust in Scotland, Drajat said.
“We are in negotiations to return the Sangguran stone back to Indonesia,” Drajat said at a press conference.
The artefact was removed from East Java by British colonialist Stamford Raffles during his 1811 to 1816 rule over Java and parts of Sumatra island, Drajat said.
Raffles gave the stone to his superior Lord Minto, the governor general of India, who then brought it back to his home in Scotland where it still stands.
An Indonesian businessman who claims he unwittingly bought stolen antiquities last year is helping the government negotiate the stone’s return.
“The Indonesian government has a policy of not paying for the return of ancient artefacts, but we are ready to cover the transfer costs and compensation to the Minto Trust,” Djojohadikusmo said at the press conference.
Last November, police found four ancient statues stolen from a Central Java museum at Djojohadikusomo’s Jakarta home. Four people, including the museum’s curator, were arrested in the case, but Djojohadikusmo has not been named a suspect.
Theft of ancient artefacts is rife in Indonesia, home to ruins of Hindu and Buddhist kingdoms that flourished from the seventh century onward.
Source: http://afp.google.com/
January 25th, 2008
Slamet Susanto and Tarko Sudiarno, The Jakarta Post, Bantul
Japanese Prince Fumihito Akishimo said he was amazed Wednesday at the beauty of the seventh century Prambanan Temple, but was also concerned about its damaged state after the massive Yogyakarta earthquake in 2006.
“The prince was worried about the damage caused by the earthquake and said he hoped it could be restored soon,” said Herni Pramastuti, supervisor of the Central Java Preservation and Cultural Heritage Center, who accompanied the prince on his visit to Prambanan Temple.
The prince, however, did not say whether he would provide assistance for the restoration, Herni said. The Japanese government has so far provided around Rp 800 million (approximately US$88,800) to restore Garuda Temple located east of Prambanan.
Herni said it would take a long time and a lot of money to renovate Prambanan Temple. The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has so far provided Rp 500 million to restore Prambanan Temple.
During the visit to Prambanan, Prince Akishimo was accompanied by his wife, Princess Kiko, who asked many questions about the meaning of the reliefs on the temple walls.
“She was very curious and often asked for explanations about the reliefs inside the temple, especially the animal figures,” Herni said.
During the tour, Prince Akishimo often stopped to take photos of the temple and surroundings with his pocket camera.
Before visiting Prambanan Temple, Akishimo also visited SMPN II Pleret junior high school in Bantul, Yogyakarta, which was rebuilt by the Japanese government after the earthquake.
During the 20-minute visit, Akishimo, escorted by Yogyakarta Education Office head Sugito and Bantul Regent Idham Samawi, said he was impressed by the children’s rapid recovery from post-quake trauma.
“He was pleased not only at the speed of the reconstruction work but also with people’s psychological recovery, especially the school children,” Idham said.
Akishimo made positive remarks about students’ extra curricular studies in Bantul, which included music and handicrafts, Idham said.
“Very good, you are clever,” Idham said, citing the prince as they watched students engaged in pottery making.
Akishimo presented a memento to the school, in the form of a ceramic rooster produced by a village in Japan. For Akishimo, the rooster has added meaning since he has conducted research on poultry and previously had visited Indonesia for the purpose.
Akishimo also attended an informal meeting and banquet on Wednesday hosted by Gadjah Mada University rector Sudjarwadi.
“The meeting focussed more on education and cultural issues since UGM has so far established good ties with a number of universities in Japan,” Sudjarwadi said after the meeting.
Source: The Jakarta Post
January 25th, 2008