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Local France
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Paris museum sued for dropping Tibet references: legal documents
The state-run Musée Guimet recently renamed its Nepal-Tibet room 'Himalayan world', which the groups say is 'sowing confusion about Tibet's cultural distinctiveness with the political aim of erasing Tibet's existence'. They also accuse it of removing references to 'Tibetan art' in its collection, with the traditional Buddhist identity of the region an object of intense struggle between pro-Tibetan groups and Beijing. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs in France, Lily Ravon and William Bourdon, told AFP it was, 'hard not to see a political undertone and a deliberate choice by the Musée Guimet to align itself with Chinese lobbying efforts'. Contacted by AFP, the museum denied any intention to 'render a culture invisible, let alone deny Tibetan identity', and said the use of 'Himalayan world' was meant to 'highlight the richness of cultural interactions across this vast and complex region'. Located in the upmarket 16th district, the Musée Guimet specialises in Asian art. Tibet is officially one of China's 'autonomous regions', but Beijing has largely abandoned the phrase 'Tibet Autonomous Region' in favour of 'Xizang Autonomous Region' in official non-Chinese-language communications. Beijing is extremely sensitive about the issue of Tibetan identity and anything seen as challenging its sovereignty over the strategic Himalayan plateau that borders India, Nepal and Bhutan. Advertisement The French associations argue in their legal complaint that the changes at the Musée Guimet 'lack any scientific or historical basis' and breach the museum's statutory mission to contribute to 'education, training and research'. France and China marked 60 years of diplomatic relations last year, when controversy about references to Tibet in Parisian art collections first emerged. Around 30 researchers published an open letter accusing the Guimet Museum and the Quai Branly Museum, which is dedicated to indigenous arts, of 'bowing to China' by removing the word Tibet and of complying with its 'demands ... to rewrite history'.
Straits Times
02-07-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
Paris museum sued for dropping Tibet references: Legal documents
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox PARIS - Four pro-Tibetan groups in France have lodged a legal complaint against a popular Paris museum, accusing it of wanting to 'erase the existence of Tibet', documents seen by AFP showed on July 2 . The state-run Guimet Museum recently renamed its Nepal-Tibet room as 'Himalayan world', which the groups say is 'sowing confusion about Tibet's cultural distinctiveness with the political aim of erasing Tibet's existence'. They also accuse it of removing references to 'Tibetan art' in its collection, with the traditional Buddhist identity of the region an object of intense struggle between pro-Tibetan groups and Beijing. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs in France, Ms Lily Ravon and Mr William Bourdon, told AFP it was 'hard not to see a political undertone and a deliberate choice by the Guimet Museum to align itself with Chinese lobbying efforts'. Contacted by AFP, the museum denied any intention to 'render a culture invisible, let alone deny Tibetan identity', and said the use of 'Himalayan world' was meant to 'highlight the richness of cultural interactions across this vast and complex region'. Located in the upmarket 16th district, the Guimet Museum specialises in Asian art. Tibet is officially one of China's 'autonomous regions', but Beijing has largely abandoned the phrase 'Tibet Autonomous Region' in favour of 'Xizang Autonomous Region' in its official non-Chinese-language communications. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore and Cambodia to expand collaboration in renewable energy, carbon markets and agri-trade Singapore Ong Beng Seng's court hearing rescheduled one day before he was expected to plead guilty Singapore Three hair salons raided in clampdown on touting, vice, drugs in Geylang and Joo Chiat Singapore The romance continues: Former 'Singapore girl', 77, returns to Osaka Expo after 55 years Singapore GrabCab, Singapore's newest taxi operator, hits the roads with over 40 cabs to be rolled out in July Singapore Police looking into claim by driver who caused teen's death that he was an NUS student Singapore Man on trial for raping drunken woman after offering to drive her and her friend home Singapore 3 weeks' jail for man who touched himself on train, flicked bodily fluid on female passenger Beijing is extremely sensitive about the issue of Tibetan identity and anything seen as challenging its sovereignty over the strategic Himalayan plateau that borders India, Nepal and Bhutan. The French associations argue in their legal complaint that the changes at the Guimet Museum 'lack any scientific or historical basis' and breach the museum's statutory mission to contribute to 'education, training and research'. France and China marked 60 years of diplomatic relations last year, when controversy about references to Tibet in Parisian art collections first emerged. Around 30 researchers published an open letter accusing the Guimet Museum and the Quai Branly Museum, which is dedicated to indigenous arts, of 'bowing to China' by removing the word Tibet and of complying with its 'demands... to rewrite history'. AFP
