Published:
The assets are considered cultural and national heritage of the North American country, so their repatriation is already being managed.
Mexico condemns the auction in France of 11 looted archaeological pieces
Authorities from the Ministry of Culture of Mexico and the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) “strongly” condemned a couple of auctions organized by the Interencheres houses and the Millon Society, which are to be held in Paris, in which archaeological assets considered national heritage will be put up for sale, according to an official statement.
According to the document, at the event organized by the French house Interencheres, scheduled for this Wednesday, will be auctioned archaeological pieces of Mexican origin, from various regions of the country. For its part, Sociedad Millon will bid on 27 October an Olmec-style piece carved in rock.
Likewise, the INAH indicated that the objects to be auctioned “are part of the cultural heritage of the Mexican nation”, therefore, as they are protected by the Federal Law on Archaeological, Artistic and Historical Monuments and Zones, their sale is illegal and is considered as trafficking.
“From the Government of Mexico we strongly regret and condemn these auctions, whose pieces constitute property of the Mexican nation, inalienable and imprescriptible, extracted without authorization and illegally from the national territory to the be prohibited from being exported by Mexican law from 1827,” the Secretariat stressed.
According to the agency, the corresponding complaints have already been filed with the Attorney General’s Office, and Interpol was notified about the auctions. Likewise, diplomatic assistance was requested from the Legal Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to manage the return of the heritage to its country of origin.
For her part, the head of Federal Culture , Alejandra Frausto Guerrero, expressed through a letter sent to the auction houses, on behalf of the Government and the people of Mexico, the resounding disapproval of the sale of historical pieces, since “it contributes to cultural dispossession and threatens the memory of the peoples”.
If you liked it, share it with your friends!
