4 -10 April 2002
Issue No.580
|
Al-Ahram Weekly Online 4 -10 April 2002 Issue No.580 |
||
| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 | Current issue | Previous issue | Site map | ||
Protecting our monuments
A few years ago, I went to Rome to represent the Supreme Council of Antiquities (SCA) at a conference at a private law institute organised to establish guidelines for the return of stolen antiquities. Many countries sent representatives to the discussions, which took place over a period of three years, and to help develop a set of by-laws. As well as myself, Egypt sent a representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with Mohamed Moussa and Abdel-Kader El-Nashar, the SCA's chief legal counsellor. At last year's meetings, Lamia Mikhemer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was particularly active, and together we had consultations with delegations from countries that suffer, like Egypt, from the stealing of artefacts, notably with the delegations from Turkey, Iran, Italy, Greece and some Arab countries.
In 1972, representatives of the countries belonging to UNESCO announced that stolen artefacts should be returned to their countries of origin, but they did not stipulate how this should be handled. UNESCO subsequently hired a professor of law from Switzerland to lead meetings on the subject in Italy. These discussions were extremely interesting. I was amazed to see the way in which some countries guarded their nationals who possessed artefacts illegally to ensure that they would be protected from harm or liability under the proposed articles of the law. Antiquities dealers also sent representatives to the meetings to look out for their own interests.
During the final meeting, one article gained the approval of most countries. This article stipulated that if a person who possessed stolen artefacts had good intentions, then the country which was the rightful owner should pay that person compensation. In other words, they would have to buy back stolen artefacts from thieves.
Imagine Egypt having to pay such compensation. I ask you, reader, do you think this is fair? How can we determine if the thieves, or the current owners, have good or bad intentions? I found this article grossly unfair, since it put the burden on the victim, and need I say that the Egyptian delegation voted against it. I asked the chairman if I could explain our viewpoint, and said I was sorry that our delegation found it necessary to veto the article, but we believed it unjust. I said Egyptian monuments did not belong only to us but to everyone. We were the guardians of these magnificent monuments, I told them, and I gave them examples of the thefts we suffer in our country.
While on the plane returning home I closed my eyes and asked myself what we could do to protect our monuments, Egypt's history, and the history of civilisation. I started day-dreaming. I thought we would be well advised to do away with with the system of tough guards with big sticks using their strong personalities and family connections. We needed to put in charge of our sacred treasures people who were qualified for the post. We should open a Guards Institute to teach people about the value of our heritage and train them how to be not just guards but guardians. The institute should accept only applicants with high school diplomas, and it should teach archaeology and discipline. The guards' salaries should be higher than at present. Imagine, guards now make a paltry 100 Egyptian pounds a month. These underpaid men are in charge of guarding the world's greatest monuments. How can we expect the average guard to care about the monuments when he doesn't even know the history of what he is protecting, and from which he makes such a small income?
My thoughts soared. We should create an Antiquities Police Force, a department separate from the existing Tourist Police. They should receive the resources and facilities they need to ensure the protection of our monuments and artefacts: a helicopter to inspect remote antiquities sites in the desert, for example. Also, we need to use modern technology more widely to protect our museums. I am, incidentally, thrilled to see that Cairo's Egyptian Museum is now equipped with modern technology that meets the standards of the Western world.
All the tombs and temples in Egypt need to be documented on computers. Many tombs have been published, but we need to have every tomb documented. Only by so doing will we be able rapidly to identify stolen objects and ensure their speedy return. Each tomb should be opened periodically for inspection. In my opinion it is not wise to leave tombs closed for long periods. They need constant attention for maximum protection.
Storage museums should be built at every site, and we should discontinue the use of the mud-brick storage sheds. A new department should be established to track stolen artefacts through Interpol, one that would track down artefacts in museums and in private collections and make sure that they were safely returned to Egypt. Egyptian archaeologists or, as we call them, Inspectors of Antiquities, now make so little money that they are forced to moonlight to support themselves and their families. We need to increase their salaries so that they can devote all their time to the protection and safety of the monuments.
The plane landed at Cairo Airport. I opened my eyes and was quickly brought back to reality. It would take billions of pounds to put such plans into action and, at this time, the Ministry of Culture does not have the funds. I am not discouraged, however, because during the fight I had envisioned positive changes, some of which have already been accomplished. Storage museums have already been built at many archaeological sites including Giza, Saqqara and Bahariya Oasis.
It is important to dream, to strive for better protection of our monuments. I am optimistic that one day my dreams will come true. Until that day, I will do all in my power to be a loyal guardian of the monuments.
© Copyright Al-Ahram Weekly. All rights reserved
 |
|
|||||||||||||||||
| ARCHIVES Letter from the Editor Editorial Board Subscription Advertise! |
WEEKLY ONLINE: www.ahram.org.eg/weekly Updated every Saturday at 11.00 GMT, 2pm local time weeklyweb@ahram.org.eg |
 Al-Ahram Organisation |
Recommend this page