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| Snowy entrance to convention center in Thimphu, Bhutan |
By Julia Brennan, ARCA Alum 2009
Part I
The
Royal Government of Bhutan graciously hosted the first Asian-based cultural
security conference, under the auspices of the Ministry of Home and Cultural
Affairs (MoHCa), and funded by Interpol and the Norwegian Department of Foreign
Affairs. It was the first attempt to bring together professionals in the
culture protection and law enforcement sectors to begin to develop networks and
alliances in this region. In funding this convening, Interpol’s goal is to
launch stronger initiatives with member states in Asia—promoting engagement and
information exchange; regular posting on the stolen art database; and
sustainable relationships with Asian country law enforcement and customs
agencies.
The
Royal Government of Bhutan was a gracious and generous host. For many attendees,
it was a first visit to this remarkable and beautiful Kingdom. This gathering was unlike most
conferences where attendees are ‘on their own’ for most evenings and free days. Instead, the foreign guests were
treated to well-organized cultural tours of sacred monasteries and museums, and
feted with rich local meals, cultural dance programs, comfortable hotels, hot
stone baths, and quick shopping sprees - a rich and generous welcome and
introduction to Bhutan. Everyone was humbled by the kindness and
all-inclusiveness of our hosts.
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| The marchang, a traditional Bhutanese ceremony, performed. |
Opening
day began at the National Convention Center started with the marchang, a traditional Bhutanese
ceremony performed to promote an auspicious start to a new endeavor. That night,
a deep snow fell blanketing the country – an auspicious sign for our forum to
protect cultural heritage. We were profusely thanked and blessed, as indeed the
deities were pleased with our conference; the much-needed snow heralded a good
start to the new year of the Water Snake, a robust harvest, and an end to the
forest fires.
In
attendance were about 30 international participants and 60 Bhutanese. The
Bhutanese representation included the Cultural Officer and local police chief
from each of the 20 national districts, as well as professionals from the Ministry
of Home and Culture, local museums, and monasteries. Foreign participants came
from Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, The Netherlands, UK, USA, Korea,
Australia, Vietnam, China and India. The strongest law enforcement sector
heralded from Europe, with the Executive Director of Police Services of
Interpol, M. Jean-Michel Louboutin as the Honorable Chief Guest. European police,
investigators, criminologists, and customs agents made up the strongest
component of the conference.
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| Interpol's Jean-Michel Louboutin with Brigadier Kipchu Namgyel, Chief of Police Royal Bhutan Police |
The
20 presenters, chiefly non-Asian, laid out sound instruments, platforms, and
methodologies for combatting the illicit trade and retrieving lost cultural
heritage. It was a powerful tool kit that we began with. It covered national and international
laws, conventions, inventories and object ID databases, and international joint
customs operations. Presenters
reviewed platforms such as ARCHEO, COLOSEUM, ICOM’s Red List and INTERPOL’s
stolen art database. Additional
information was provided about museum security measures; investigations by
police and criminologists; the role of prosecutors; the importance of
preventative measures adopted from the conservation practice; and grass roots
initiatives in culturally-rich areas.
The content-rich agenda even covered liaison with tourist and local
infrastructure; use of the media to build awareness and participation; development
of emergency and disaster preparedness; and the role of market versus source
countries in the fight to protect cultural property.
Sadly,
there was little police representation from most Asian countries. Noticeably
lacking at this first Asian-based conference were law enforcement, customs, or
Ministry of Culture personnel from Thailand, India, Nepal, China, Vietnam,
Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Singapore or Malaysia. Several
of these countries - Thailand, China, and Singapore, for example - play major
roles in international trafficking and trans-shipment. Others, such as Cambodia, Laos,
Myanmar, and Indonesia, are victims of ongoing looting and theft of their
cultural property. The Bhutanese may have benefited the most from this
conference, with a strong and broad-based attendance, with several
presentations focused on illicit trafficking and theft cases in Bhutan.
There
was a paucity of dialogue about other Asian countries, with no mention or
discussion of the ever-growing Asian-based market for antiquities. Singapore
and Bangkok are both active illicit hubs, with China and Vietnam’s growing population
of individuals with purchasing power creating renewed demand for antiquities
globally. Thus, it felt like a
missed opportunity to not explore these newly emerging markets and laundering
sites. At the same time, perhaps now that the first such gathering is complete,
it’s possible that future gatherings will begin to address these major threats
to regional cultural heritage.
Bhutan
emerged as the star player in this conference and in the protection of their
cultural property. A preview of this strong role was the large sign at the
national airport customs picturing Bhutanese artifacts and stating “Help Us
Protect our Culture and Heritage” (along with caveats, guidelines, and penal
consequences). Bhutan is an active member of INTERPOL, with regular communications and
postings to INTERPOL’s stolen art database. It also has a sound and growing national
database (both written and photographed) of their cultural heritage; training
and posting of cultural officers in all the districts widely distributed and
culturally-aware police force, and a strong base of nationalism and religious
beliefs by the population at large. Bhutan is actively engaged in the
protection of their religious heritage and presented several compelling talks
focused on the theft and loss, recovery and preventative methods in place.
Bhutanese
speakers included: The Minister of Home and Culture, H.E. Lyonpo Minjur Dorji;
Mr. Dorjee Tshering, Director General of the Department of Culture; Mr.
Tshewant Gyalpo, Director of Department of Culture; and Brigadier Kipchu
Namgyel, Chief of Police Royal Bhutan Police. All gave clear overviews of the current state of cultural
property protection, regional statistics of loss, including case studies of the
on-going vandalism of remote chortens
or stupas. These religious sites are primarily targeted for the possible
snatching of the valuable dzi bead,
or cat’s eye agates. Since these relic beads are greatly sought after by
Taiwanese and Chinese willing to pay tens of thousands of dollars for a
stunning example, the thefts continue, perhaps by hire, and certainly executed
by a well-greased international smuggling ring. The violation of these sacred
protective sites deeply pains the Bhutanese, and steps are being taken to stem
the on-going vandalism. Several law enforcement experts from Europe, as well as
the deputy director of UNESCO, met with Bhutanese officials to discuss the
urgency of this problem, and launch of a strategy and programs to end these
thefts.
Ms. Brennan's coverage of the conference will continue tomorrow.
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