Minister Pushes for Repatriation of Indonesian Historical Artifacts from Germany

KBRN, Jakarta: Indonesian Minister of Culture Fadli Zon is actively pursuing the repatriation of several historical artifacts from Germany to Indonesia. He announced that the retrieval of these artifacts is the next mission following the successful return of the "Java Man" fossils from the Netherlands.

"This afternoon, we held a meeting with Professor Ulrich Kozok. He is a manuscript expert from Germany," Minister Fadli said on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, while attending the Bung Hatta's Black Cap Grant ceremony at the Museum of the Proclamation Text Drafting in Central Jakarta.

During the meeting, the Minister affirmed the government's commitment to repatriating various Indonesian historical objects. This measure is intended to restore the national identity and enrich the nation's cultural heritage.

As a follow-up to this commitment, the Ministry of Culture has established a repatriation team composed of cultural heritage experts. "The repatriation process is ongoing. Most recently, we returned the Dubois collection to Indonesia," he explained.

The Minister underscored that the repatriation of historical objects is a high-priority program that must be pursued immediately. He stressed that these objects are a vital part of the national identity and history that must be preserved for future generations.

In addition to retrieving collections from overseas, Fadli explained the need to improve the data collection system for museum collections throughout Indonesia. Better data management and conservation are seen as crucial steps for the protection, preservation, and advancement of the national cultural ecosystem.

“Looking ahead, we hope regional museums will be empowered to conduct conservation efforts and properly document their collections,” the Minister expressed. “This includes organizing texts and manuscripts more systematically, as they are vital to our cultural advancement.”

Meanwhile, German cultural scholar Ulrich Kozok voiced his support for the repatriation of the Sisingamangaraja collection currently housed at the Museum aan de Stroom. He emphasized that manuscripts are a fundamental component of cultural heritage.

Regarding the effort to repatriate historical artifacts from Germany to Indonesia, he expressed his full readiness to offer support, including coordinating with foreign museums.

"I have been in contact several times with foreign museums that are willing to return collections. I am also willing to help," he stated on Tuesday, October 15, 2025.

He expressed hope that the return of historical artifacts to Indonesia would proceed smoothly and benefit the community. This step, he concluded, would also strengthen cultural ties between countries and affirm Indonesia's sovereignty over its historical heritage. (Naura Sofia/ Sri Wahyuni)