Ethiopian activists ask Blair to return looted treasures

By ANTHONY MITCHELL, Associated Press Writer

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Oct 7, 2004 (AP) — Ethiopian campaigners on Thursday pressed British Prime Minister Tony Blair to return sacred Ethiopian objects and ancient artifacts that were looted by British troops more than a century ago and are now locked up in British museums and royal palaces.

Blair, who is in Ethiopia to explore new ways of helping Africa, should repatriate rare religious books, illuminated manuscripts and hundreds of other Ethiopian treasures to boost Ethiopia’s tourism industry, campaigners said in a letter handed to the prime minister’s aides.

Many of the sacred objects and artifacts were looted by British troops 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, some 350 manuscripts, 10 tabots, or altar slabs, and religious crosses.

The items are currently held mainly at the British Library, the British Museum, the Royal Library at Windsor Castle, the Edinburgh University Library and at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Britain’s royal family holds six religious manuscripts, which are 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 which is held in the British Library.

The Ethiopian Church and government has also been exerting diplomatic pressure on Britain to return the stolen items, which are cumulatively valued by Ethiopian campaigners at US$3 billion (A?2.4 billion).

Some “individuals have also led the way returning a number of artifacts including Emperor Tewodros’s amulet, another tabot, a handwritten book of psalms and a silver-decorated shield,” campaigners said in a letter signed by Andreas Eshete of the Addis Ababa University.

“We would appreciate your help in getting the remaining Ethiopian treasures returned,” said the letter also signed by historian Richard Pankhurst, who was honored this year by Queen Elizabeth II for his services to advance Ethiopian studies.

Abuna Paulos, head of the 25 million-strong Ethiopian Orthodox Church, says the sacred objects are the crux of religious belief in the country.