Flawed Assumptions of Anti-Looting Activists

Peter Tompa raises some important questions (Wednesday, May 13, 2015, 'More Transparency and Inclusion Needed') about the well-funded and well-connected "Antiquities Coalition" and the conference they have helped promote and organize in Cairo to address the problem of looting in times of civil unrest and war. Unfortunately, the conference relies on flawed assumptions:

1. That state ownership and control over everything "old" is justified because nation states are always the best stewards of cultural artifacts;
2. That the only groups that "count" are governments, law enforcement, archeologists and state sponsored museums; and
3. That panels of experts representing these same interests, blog posts, press releases and articles meant to shape public opinion can substitute for transparent decision making.

The Egyptian Military Dictatorship's sponsorship of the Cairo conference and the unclear nature of the Antiquities Coalition's relationship with the Egyptian Government means that legitimate questions should be raised about this endeavor.