JAKARTA - Eight artifacts from Papua were repatriated from the United States to Indonesia. The cultural objects include carved human skulls, stone axes and spears, as well as decorated wooden clubs associated with the Dani, Sentani, and Asmat communities.
Minister of Culture Fadli Zon said the repatriation was part of the government's efforts to bring back Indonesian cultural heritage objects that are abroad, especially those suspected of leaving through illegal trade.
"These objects must be cultural treasures that we preserve, unless they are given legally to museums, legal exchanges, or loans for exhibition needs," said Fadli in a press conference at the Ministry of Culture's Office, Jakarta, Thursday, July 23.
Five artifacts were previously handed over by the Director of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI, Kash Patel, to President Prabowo Subianto on July 22. Fadli accompanied the handover.
The objects consist of an engraved human skull, two stone artifacts labeled Dani tribe, a stone axe head labeled Hollandia New Guinea 1944, and a spear from the Sentani Lake area.
Three other artifacts were handed over by the FBI to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Washington DC on July 21. The three of them are stone-headed beaters and two decorated wooden beaters labeled as coming from the Asmat tribe. The goods were then processed to be repatriated to Indonesia.
Fadli emphasized that cultural heritage objects should no longer leave Indonesia through illegal channels. However, the rules are considered not enough without the cooperation of ministries, law enforcement agencies, museum managers, and other parties that handle the traffic of cultural goods.
"Rules regarding the prevention of theft of cultural heritage objects already exist, but it needs cross-sectoral cooperation," he said.
The Ministry of Culture has previously also cooperated in the repatriation of a number of historical objects. Among them are the bronze statue of Bodhisattva, the statue of Avalokitesvara, the statue of Surocolo, the Teuku Umar Koran, and the Bronbeek Museum collection from the Netherlands.
The government is also still trying to return the Pucangan Inscription from Kolkata, India, and the Minto Stones or Sangguran Inscription from Scotland.
In addition to repatriation, the Ministry of Culture is preparing the revitalization of a number of sites this year. The locations include the Pewara Temple in the Prambanan complex, the Sewu Temple, the Plaosan Temple, the Maimun Palace, and the Solo Palace.
Fadli hopes that the restoration will not only preserve historic buildings, but also attract tourists and stimulate the economy of the surrounding community.
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