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Outback spirits to return home

By Colin Brown, Political Editor

26 November 2000 - The spirits of hundreds of Aborigines may be finally laid to rest after a decision by Chris Smith, Secretary of State for Culture, to return their bones to Australia.

The move has alarmed civil servants, who say it could reopen the row with Greece over the return of the Elgin Marbles from the British Museum.

Mr Smith is adamant that he can draw a line between returning human remains so they - and their spirits - can be laid to rest, and ancient artefacts like the Marbles.

The minister was impressed by the case made by Aboriginal leaders who have lobbied the Government for the return of the bones, saying that the spirits cannot rest until they are buried in their homeland.

From the 18th century onwards, the bones were collected by British scientists to study the origin of man and human evolution. The practice only ceased in the 1930s.

Several small museums, including the Horniman Museum in South London and others in Oxford, have been holding on to small collections of remains.

The Natural History Museum at Kensington in London has 448 bone items, including some skulls, from Australia. The British Museum has a about 30 objects from Aboriginal sources, including amulets with knucklebones and decorated skulls.

The Australian Prime Minister John Howard, who was criticised by Aboriginal leaders for failing to do more for their people, pressed Tony Blair in the summer to repatriate the remains. Downing Street said Mr Blair would give the request "a fair wind" but no firm commitment was made.

Britain cannot return items from museums under present UK law, so Mr Smith is seeking to change 1983 National Heritage Act. He is not thought to have secured a place in the Queen's Speech for a Bill but is likely to seek an MP to sponsor the measure after the private members' ballot to introduce legislation next month.

This article is from The Independent

Further information: repatriation issues page - includes news index and external links

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