TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Prabowo Subianto received the return of Indonesian cultural artifacts directly from the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) of the United States, Kash Patel. The artifacts had previously been illegally smuggled out of the country.
The handover took place during Kash Patel's honorary visit to Kertanegara, Jakarta, on Wednesday, July 22, 2026. Minister of Culture Fadli Zon explained that the handover of these Indonesian cultural artifacts is part of the repatriation cooperation between the Indonesian Government and the FBI.
"Cultural objects, cultural artifacts, which were illegally smuggled to the United States and after provenance research, these objects were then returned and brought directly by Mr. Kash Patel to Mr. President Prabowo Subianto," said Fadli, quoted from the written statement of the Presidential Secretariat.
The Gerindra Party politician explained that the returned artifacts originate from Papua, specifically representing the cultural heritage of the Dani, Asmat, and Danau communities in the Danau Sentani region. According to Fadli, these items hold historical and cultural value for Indonesia.
"I believe these are very valuable items because this repatriation process is our effort to restore our cultural sovereignty," Fadli said.
Fadli Zon stated that cooperation between Indonesia and the FBI in the return of cultural artifacts has occurred previously. The FBI has helped return various stolen Indonesian artifacts, including bronze statues and artifacts from several cultural sites.
He said that these artifacts will be displayed at the National Museum for the public to enjoy and study. "We hope that cooperation with the FBI, especially regarding repatriation and restitution of cultural artifacts, will strengthen in the future, supported by the Ministry of State Secretariat and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Fadli said.
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