[CPProt.net] UK returns historic sword to Ethiopia

[MSN CPPnet (Ton Cremers)]

UK returns historic sword to Ethiopia

Wednesday 12 October 2005 1:28 PM GMT 

  
The British army massacred Ethiopian troops in 1868  

A sword, looted by British troops 137 years ago, has been returned to
Ethiopia, according to a leading scholar who also says that the UK should
hand over many other stolen treasures. 


Historian Richard Pankhurst, who flew to Ethiopia with the weapon, said it
had been in the possession of a theatrical props company in London.

Pankhurst said he had identified it as a sword looted by British troops from
Ethiopia over a century ago. 

The curved sword, valued at just under $9000, will be displayed at the
Institute of Ethiopian Studies in the capital, Addis Ababa. 

"This gesture should be repeated by the various museums and the queen's
library that are currently illegitimately holding priceless looted treasure
from Maqdala," where British troops annihilated the Ethiopian army in 1868,
the historian said. 

Objects for return

Pankhurst has been leading the campaign for the return of hundreds of sacred
objects and artifacts looted by British troops from Ethiopia on the rampage
after defeating the 
Ethiopian army at the Battle of Maqdala in 1868. 

Among the most important items are a gold crown and chalice belonging to
Emperor Tewodros II, about 350 manuscripts, 10 altar slabs and religious
crosses. 

The items are held mainly at the British Library, the British Museum and the
Royal Library at Windsor Castle, as well as at the Victoria and Albert
Museum. 

Britain's royal family holds six religious manuscripts said to be the finest
examples of Ethiopian manuscripts anywhere in the world. 

By far, the most valuable item is one of two copies of the Kebra Negast - or
Glory of Kings - Ethiopia's holy book held in the British Library. 

The Ethiopian Church and government have been exerting diplomatic pressure
on Britain to return the stolen items, which are cumulatively valued by
Ethiopian campaigners at $3 billion. 

Britain says the law only permits repatriation of such items through a vote
in Parliament. However, campaigners argue they could be returned on
permanent loan without a vote. 


Agencies
By 

You can find this article at:
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/7C7F349D-7373-45FB-B233-D3AB72D77050.
htm