VANUATU: Police probe illegal artifacts trade
Updated
An investigation is underway in Vanuatu into an attempt to illegally traffic cultural artefacts from the Island of Malekua. Police have recovered traditional kava-making stone artefacts estimated to be more than 500 years old allegedly from the residence of a French citizen living in Port Vila.
Presenter: Sam Seke
Speakers: Marcelin Abong, Director Vanuatu Cultural Centre, Arthur Caulton, Vanuatu Deputy Police Commissioner
SEKE: This latest incident has prompted both the Vanuatu police and the Cultural centre to call for a regional mechanism to control the illicit trafficking of cultural artefacts.
Director of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, Marcelin Abong says culturally valuable artefacts from the islands could be lost for good if the issue is not addressed.
Mr Abong says the kava-making stone artefacts recovered from the French citizen were up to 20 generations old or around 500 years.
He is speaking to Caroline Tiriman
ABONG: We have some original carving stones, and also the kava stones for the kava ceremonies. But they were made of stones. So those stones came from the particularly in the northwest island of Malekua, one of the biggest island in Vanuatu.
TIRIMAN: The legal international trade of cultural artefacts from the Pacific or even Melanesia, is it a big issue or not?
ABONG: The illegal trafficking in Melanesia is a very, very big issue. I don't know if our national government like in Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands I don't know, Vanuatu. They have their own policies of fighting against gun illegal trafficking. It's better for the Forum for the Melanesian Speargroup to come up with strong, strong policies or to set up a task force unit to fight against these kind of illicit trafficking in our Pacific or Melanesian states. Because we have many, many, many cultural tangible heritage, that's gone, and I am just happening to the national leaders to look on it now, instead of waiting for two, three, four years later. Because every year we have something's gone.
SEKE: Director of the Vanuatu Cultural Centre, Marcelin Abong speaking to Caroline Tiriman of Radio Australia's Tok Pisin Service.
Vanuatu's Deputy Police Commissioner, Arthur Caulton says ignorance of the cultural value of the traditional artefacts exacerbates is the problem.
Mr Caulton says police are continuing their investigation into the latest incident.
CAULTON: We know where they came from and we have some idea as to who show the artefacts to the foreigner that was there. But we are yet to go over to the island to actually take statements and make some arrests if need be.
SEKE: Is this a problem in Vanuatu? I mean the local people selling traditional artefacts to foreigners?
CAULTON: Yes, especially out in the islands where local people are not sure about what they are selling or giving out to foreigners, especially with traditional carvings and all that. The locals don't know what they are giving out to the expatriates or visiting tourists.
SEKE: Are you aware of any legislation or any system in place among the Pacific Island countries to may be control such illicit export of traditional artefacts?
CAULTON: No, not that I'm aware of. But I think that is an issue that should be taken up by Pacific Forum. I think that's a problem. There's no strict control of our artefacts, especially from the Pacific Islands.
