AFROMET press release 21 January 05

AFROMET has taken its campaign to the UK Parliament's House of Commons. AFROMET supporter and British Member of Parliament Derek Wyatt has put down a motion calling on the British Museum to return a number of Tabots - sacred altar slabs - which were taken from Maqdala in 1868.

AFROMET is now calling on all UK-based supporters to write to their members of parliament asking them to support Derek Wyatt's motion.

Derek Wyatt's motion is an Early Day Motion (EDM) . An EDM is a motion put down, or tabled, on the order paper by an Member of Parliament calling for a debate on a particular subject.

The modern-day purpose of EDMs is to allow backbench MPs to express their opinion on a subject and to canvass support for their views by inviting other members to add their signatures in support of the motion. As a general rule, EDMs will only be debated if they can gain the support of over half the MPs in the House, around 330.

AFROMET believes that this s a rare chance to get its cause discussed on the floor of Britain's Parliament. It will raise the profile of the campaign and increase pressure on the British Museum and other institutions still holding Maqdala loot. Now all we need are the 330 signatures.

The text of the motion reads:

That this House congratulates both the Italian Government on its decision to return the Ethiopian Obelisk to Axum and Glasgow City Council's Cultural Committee on its decision to repatriate Maori artefacts; notes that a special panel at Edinburgh University will shortly decide on whether to return stolen Ethiopian manuscripts in its possession; and calls on the British Museum to return the stolen Ethiopian Tabots, also in its possession which are deeply sacred to Ethiopian Christians.

If you want to support this motion, here is a draft letter that you can write to you MP:

[DRAFT LETTER FOR your Member of Parliament]

Dear XXX,

I am writing to ask for your support. Please can you sign up to the Early Day Motion on looted items, number 374, that has recently been tabled by Derek Wyatt MP.

A great deal of Ethiopia's heritage has been taken away from us and we urge you to help us highlight the concern that this arouses among Ethiopians all over the world by signing the EDM.

These items have enormous significance for Ethiopia and Ethiopians and will be well looked after once they reach Ethiopia. They are national treasures and will be cherished. The Tabots will go to individual churches which they will sanctify.

The Ethiopian government and people overwhelmingly support this call for the return of sacred items, as does Ethiopia's Culture Minister Teshome Toga and Ethiopia's parliament, through its Speaker Dawit Yohannes. Ethiopia's nascent tourism industry also welcomes this call for justice to prevail.

I very much hope that you can offer your support.

Yours Sincerely,

XXX

Find about more about AFROMET's campaign and the history of the Maqdala plunder through the 'About Us', 'History' and 'Treasure' sections of AFROMET's website - www.afromet.org.