The campaign which the Celtic League has run for many years for the return of important artefacts held by British institutions to the Celtic countries has received a useful fillip with an article in the UK Observer newspaper.

Because of its relevance we are taking the unusual step of reproducing the article, in full, below - it can be accessed at:

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"SALMOND GAMBIT FOR RETURN OF CHESSMEN

First Minister supports Celtic League's call for the restitution of treasures

(Paul Kelbie Sunday January 6, 2008 The Observer)

A call by First Minister Alex Salmond for the return of ancient Scottish treasures from the British Museum has fuelled demands from five other Celtic nations for an end to 'colonial racism' and the return of historically important artefacts. Among the items held in some of the UK's most respected academic collections are the ancient Lewis Chessmen found on a beach near Uig on the Isle of Lewis in the early 19th century. Historians believe they were probably made in Norway about 1,000 years ago and brought to the Western Isles by Vikings

The original find comprised 93 chessmen, but only 11 are currently held in Scotland, exhibited at the Royal Museum in Edinburgh. The remainder are held by the British Museum in London. Salmond has said he intends to start campaigning for the return of the chessmen in the next few weeks. 'I find it utterly unacceptable that the Lewis Chessmen are scattered around Britain,' he said. Now, encouraged by the First Minister's announcement, the Celtic League - an independent pressure group that champions the cultural rights of the indigenous people of Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Brittany, the Isle of Man and Cornwall - has renewed calls for the return of a number of other Celtic exhibits to their 'rightful' homes.

The league would also like to see the return to Wales of the Gold Cape of Mold, a priceless Bronze Age 23-carat religious garment discovered in North Wales in 1833 and currently housed by the British Museum, and the Chronicles of the Kings of Man and the Isles, a 13th-century manuscript regarded as the first known recorded history of the island and now held by the British Library.

There has been a sustained call in the Isle of Man for the return of the chronicles and a resolution was recently passed in the Tynwald supporting the call for their return.

'These are artefacts in British institutions which have been removed from all the Celtic countries which we want back,' said Bernard Moffatt, director of information for the Celtic League.

It has been suggested that, when returned, the complete chessmen set should be exhibited in both Edinburgh and the Outer Hebrides, providing an important boost for cultural tourism in the islands.

'The Scottish Government's initiative over the chessmen issue is welcomed by the Celtic League,' said Moffatt. 'The league have believed for many years that historical artefacts should be returned to their home countries.

'Salmond's move in respect of the Lewis Chessmen may put some backbone into administrations in Wales and the Isle of Man to pursue similar initiatives.'

The league, which has more than 1,000 members in branches in each of the six Celtic countries campaigning on a broad range of political, cultural and environmental matters, has been continually thwarted in its attempts to get the artefacts returned until now.

The previous Labour-led Scottish Executive said it had no policy of seeking inward restitution of Scottish materials, and without the Executive's support the league was unable to bring enough pressure on the UK government.

'We believe that these artefacts should be restored to their national territory because they are of more relevance in their own countries,' said Moffatt. 'The British Museum and British Library has a very narrow perspective on what should happen to these artefacts.'

However, a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said that the British Museum is forbidden by law from disposing of any items it holds in its collection.

'It's astonishing that this old argument is still trotted out,' said Moffatt. 'We are talking about countries within the United Kingdom. It is hardly setting any major international precedent of returning artifacts just by moving them within the political sway of the UK.' -"

See also Celtic News articles at:

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J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League

06/01/08

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