Ancient relic to return from Scotland

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

A thousand-year-old stone tablet known as the Sanggurah Stone, or more commonly the "Minto" stone, is expected to be returned to its home in Indonesia from Scotland before the end of 2008.

The return will be made possible thanks to Hashim Djojohadikusumo, who is currently working with high-profile artifact theft from Surakarta museum.

The historical artifact originated from Malang, East Java, weighs around three tons and is two meters tall. It is held in Roxburghshire, Scotland.

It has been part of a family collection belonging to the former British Governor General of India, Lord Minto, after being presented to him by British Governor Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles in the early 19th century.

The primeval stone tablet bears an ancient inscription dated 982 AD along with the name of a Javanese king, Sri Maharaja Rakai Pangkaja Dyah Wawa Sri Wijayalokanamottungga, who ruled over Malang at that time.

"The Minto Stone is an important historical artifact and a crucial source of information. It contains the history of the Mataram kingdom in Central Java and its eventual shift of power to East Java," Culture and Tourism Ministry director general of history and archeology Hari Untoro Drajat announced at a media gathering Thursday.

"Upon the artifact's return to Indonesia, facilitated by the Hashim Djojohadikusumo Foundation (YKHD), it will be placed in the National Museum in Jakarta," he said.

"The government has been attempting to secure the return of the artifact since 2004, but government-to-government negotiations have proven difficult because the relic is currently in the custodianship of Minto Trustees," Hari said.

"So we requested that YKHD step in and facilitate the return, because we recognized that non-state parties would have more leeway in negotiating."

Prominent businessman and arts collector Hashim Djojohadikusumo said YKHD, a charity organization dedicated to the preservation of Indonesia's cultural and archeological heritage, had been involved in negotiations to secure the return of the Minto Stone since early last year.

"In April 2007, we accepted a mission from the state conveyed to us by the Director General and Dr. Soeroso, and have since met thrice with Lord Minto himself in London to negotiate the return of the artifact," he said.

London-based Hashim, son of the late prominent New Order economist Soemitro Djojohadikusumo, was recently linked to a high-profile theft and forgery case involving a number of collections from a Surakarta museum following the discovery of five of the stolen archaeological artifacts at his house in Jakarta.

Hashim is said to have bought the precious ninth century statues, of the country's Hindu-Buddha era, abroad from Hugo Kreijger, a Dutch arts dealer and consultant for Christie's auction house in Amsterdam. (amr)