MYANMAR is inviting other ASEAN members to come together to protect the region’s cultural heritage – by cracking down on the illegal trade and smuggling of antiques.

Myanmar is hosting a meeting of legal experts from ASEAN member countries at Bagan from November 9 to 14 to zero in on the problem, said U San Win, the director general of the Department of Archaeology at the National Museum and Library.

“We will collaborate with ASEAN countries to ban illegal trading. If our antiques make their way to their countries through illegal channels they will return them to us, and when we find their antiques we will give them back,” he said.

He said he expected the 10 ASEAN countries, which are each sending two legal experts to the Bagan meeting, to come up with a memorandum of understanding at the meeting.

“It is essential to protect our historical and cultural antiques, as well as those of our neighbouring countries, because they are unique historical and cultural treasures,” he said.

Myanmar had a two-track approach to the illegal trading of antiques, said U San Win. As well as taking action against smugglers, they also rewarded people who handed in antiques they find by chance.

“Some people find priceless objects while ploughing their fields or digging in their gardens, and bring them in to us at the museum,” he said.

In these cases, the government shows its appreciation by granting a reward worth 80 percent of the object’s estimated current value.

Despite the government’s efforts, illegal trading persists, he said. Those in possession of objects they think might be valuable antiques should consult with government experts before trading in them, he said.