There is a new twist in the ongoing saga over the two bronzes looted from the Yuanmingyuan in 1860 and set for auction next week in France. This past week the Chinese Foreign Ministry issued a statement of protest, and a group of Beijing-based lawyers has asked French courts to block the sale of the items, which are currently part of the estate of Yves Saint Laurent.
Now Saint Laurent’s partner, Pierre Berge has made an offer: The estate will return the bronzes to China, free of charge, in exchange for China’s promise to respect human rights and pave the way for Τibetan independence:
“I acquired them and I am completely protected by the law, so what the Chinese are saying is a bit ridiculous,” he told Reuters Television on Friday. “But I am prepared to offer this bronze head to the Chinese straight away.”
“All they have to do is to declare they are going to apply human rights, give the Τibetans back their freedom and agree to accept the Dalai Lama on their territory,” he said.
“If they do that, I would be very happy to go myself and bring these two Chinese heads to put them