Redlist to Aid in Fighting the illicit traffic of Central American Cultural Property

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The National Institute of Culture and History, International Council of Museums, (ICOM) and the United States Embassy will be promoting the new REDLIST of Endangered Cultural Property of Central America and Mexico on June 10th, 2010 in Belize. This is the seventh in the series of Red List by the ICOM to fight the illicit traffic of cultural property. The launch of this awareness campaign is an opportunity to highlight the importance of regional collaboration to prevent the illicit traffic of cultural property.

Over the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in the illegal export of cultural objects, proving the continued interest in antiquities of Central America and Mexico on the International market. This demand has encouraged widespread looting and destruction of archaeological sites as well as theft from churches and museums. The International Council of Museums, with the support of the U.S. State Department Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, Central American and Mexican Cultural Institutions have rallied to create regional awareness of the scourge of looting.

It is not stated whether or not it is expected that there will be a picket of "collectors' rights" activists outside the meeting, handing out copies of the "Internationalist collectors" manifesto (update new URL) from the pen of Messers Sayles and Welsh, or the public information pamphlets "why US import controls are an affront to civil liberties" and "Right to Know, why you should fight the US gubn'mint NOW!". And why not?

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Vignette: threatened by US collectors' rapacious pincers, the archaeological heritage of central America.