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Science Forum Index » Archaeology Forum » Yemen is pretty lax on a lot of things...
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| Jack Linthicum... |
 Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:58 am |
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Guest
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Yeme has been accused of being lax on terrorist confinement and it is
really nice to see they extend that laxity to people smuggling
artifacts out of country.
Written By: Hasan Al-Zaidi (YEMEN POST STAFF)
Article Date: May 12, 2008
The arresting of a foreign expert belonging to a giant oil company
working in Yemen at Sana'a International Airport for smuggling
antiques and monuments have aroused a lot of questions on the
mechanisms relating to the work of these companies in archeological
sites, and the role to be played by the concerned authorities
including oversight of their works and the mechanism to protect this
priceless wealth.
According to official statistics, security authorities have arrested
and foiled five smuggling tries this year and all smugglers have been
experts working for oil companies inside the country.
The total number of recovered monumental pieces mount to 80 including
statues, daggers, coins and other precious pieces.
The first smuggling attempt for the current year was discovered on
January 24 as security men arrested an Italian expert working for a
gas company and was trying to smuggle bronze statutes.
Another Italian expert was stopped on March 23 and he was seeking to
smuggle six bronze statues, 17 stone plates, 12 daggers, and three
copper amulets.
Likewise, a French expert was arrested on March 26 and he was
smuggling bronze statues and arrows. His fellow national was stopped
in Sana'a Airport on May 1 as he was about to leave the country. The
French expert was trying to smuggle eight bronze statues, five stone
statutes, 15 metal coins and three stone stamps.
For the first time, Yemeni authorities referred the French experts to
prosecution and started his trial over smuggling Yemeni monuments.
However, observers assure that he will be set free as was the case
with several smugglers especially when they are supported by oil
companies.
Yemeni economists see that the foreign experts are not content with
the millions of dollars they make from the country's oil wealth as
they further seek to smuggle thousands of monumental pieces. Most of
the smuggled pieces are sold in fairs for millions of dollars in
European and international fairs.
The latest attempt for smuggling occurred when the monuments were
smuggled in equipment cases which are not inspected by authorities. In
previous years, thousands of pieces were smuggled through diplomatic
cases or oil tankers.
Head of Monuments at the Ministry of Tourism Ahmed Al-Rawdhi pointed
out that his ministry will demand the Oil Ministry to shoulder the
responsibility for protecting monumental pieces as the arrested
experts work for them.
Al-Rawdhi added that they will appoint superintendents to join all oil
and gas companies working across the country, hinting the increase
number of smuggling tries is a dangerous indicator and adds up the
accumulating problems that monuments sector faces.
Shabwa local Saleh Muhsen Al-Akhram stresses that the problem lies on
those who are in charge of protecting and safeguarding these
monuments, maintaining he fears complicity of monuments protection
officials with oil experts especially under the deteriorating economic
situation of Yemeni public servant.
Moreover, Al-Rawdhi continued that these were just the failed attempts
and stressed that earlier tries could have been successful, revealing
that smuggling is made through the airplanes of oil companies which
are not subjected to inspection.
He asked for an unrelenting oversight of the activities of all oil
companies and noted that oil companies should not receive oil blocs
only when making sure that they do not contain archeological sites.
For his part, head of Monuments Office at Shabwa Muhsen Khairan Al-
Zubaidi stated that the company to which the arrested expert belong to
does not coordinate with his office and revealed that the company has
recruited four graduates and worked with the German and French
Institutes for Archeology since 2005.
Al-Zubaidi went on to say that some office employees worked for 20
days with the company; however, they withdrew after the company
declined to allow them to participate in excavation activities along
the gas pipeline stretching from Mareb's Safer to Shabwa's Balhaf on
the Arab Sea.
Sources indicated that the experts of both institutes have discovered
so far 171 archeological sites, three of which are of prime importance
as they contain cemeteries and graveyards dating back to prehistoric
eras.
He also maintained that smuggling of monumental pieces will continue
as long as the work of oil companies remain away from concerned
authorities and locals' eyes.
Several people stressed that transport means operated by oil companies
should be inspected, stressing that foreign archeologists that come to
Yemen are involved in smuggling monuments.
h diplomatic cases or oil tankers.
Head of Monuments at the Ministry of Tourism Ahmed Al-Rawdhi pointed
out that his ministry will demand the Oil Ministry to shoulder the
responsibility for protecting monumental pieces as the arrested
experts work for them.
Al-Rawdhi added that they will appoint superintendents to join all oil
and gas companies working across the country, hinting the increase
number of smuggling tries is a dangerous indicator and adds up the
accumulating problems that monuments sector faces.
Shabwa local Saleh Muhsen Al-Akhram stresses that the problem lies on
those who are in charge of protecting and safeguarding these
monuments, maintaining he fears complicity of monuments protection
officials with oil experts especially under the deteriorating economic
situation of Yemeni public servant.
Moreover, Al-Rawdhi continued that these were just the failed attempts
and stressed that earlier tries could have been successful, revealing
that smuggling is made through the airplanes of oil companies which
are not subjected to inspection.
He asked for an unrelenting oversight of the activities of all oil
companies and noted that oil companies should not receive oil blocs
only when making sure that they do not contain archeological sites.
For his part, head of Monuments Office at Shabwa Muhsen Khairan Al-
Zubaidi stated that the company to which the arrested expert belong to
does not coordinate with his office and revealed that the company has
recruited four graduates and worked with the German and French
Institutes for Archeology since 2005.
Al-Zubaidi went on to say that some office employees worked for 20
days with the company; however, they withdrew after the company
declined to allow them to participate in excavation activities along
the gas pipeline stretching from Mareb's Safer to Shabwa's Balhaf on
the Arab Sea.
Sources indicated that the experts of both institutes have discovered
so far 171 archeological sites, three of which are of prime importance
as they contain cemeteries and graveyards dating back to prehistoric
eras.
He also maintained that smuggling of monumental pieces will continue
as long as the work of oil companies remain away from concerned
authorities and locals' eyes.
Several people stressed that transport means operated by oil companies
should be inspected, stressing that foreign archeologists that come to
Yemen are involved in smuggling monuments.
http://www.yemenpost.net/29/Reports/20083.htm |
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