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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'.
France 24
02-07-2025
- Politics
- France 24
Guimet museum in Paris sued for dropping Tibet from gallery name
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 Wednesday. The state-run Musée Guimet recently renamed its Nepal-Tibet gallery 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, Lily Ravon and William Bourdon, told AFP it was "hard not to see a political undertone and a deliberate choice by 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 its 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. The French associations argue in their legal complaint that the changes at 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 Guimet and the nearby 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
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Paris prosecutor drops case against Apple over Congo minerals, document shows
PARIS (Reuters) -French prosecutors have closed a case filed by Democratic Republic of Congo accusing Apple subsidiaries of using conflict minerals in its supply chain, according to a document seen by Reuters on Thursday. Congo filed criminal complaints against Apple subsidiaries in France and Belgium, its lawyers said in December. Apple said then it strongly disputed the allegations and had told its suppliers they must not use the minerals in question sourced from Congo or Rwanda. In the document seen by Reuters and dated February 18, the Paris prosecutor's office said allegations of money laundering and deceptive business practices were "not sufficiently well-founded" and closed the case - meaning it will not proceed with the complaint. The office invited Congo to contact a different office "with jurisdiction over war crimes". The prosecutor's office and Apple did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Thursday. William Bourdon and Vincent Brengarth, lawyers working for Congo in France, described the decision as a "very partial dismissal" that they intended to challenge, citing the "extreme seriousness of the facts denounced and the need to identify and prosecute those responsible." Congo is a major source of tin, tantalum and tungsten, so-called 3T minerals used in computers and mobile phones. Some artisanal mines are run by armed groups involved in massacres of civilians, mass rapes, looting and other crimes, according to U.N. experts and human rights groups. Since the 1990s, Congo's mining heartlands in the east have been devastated by waves of fighting between armed groups, some backed by neighbouring Rwanda, and the Congolese military. The complaints filed in France and Belgium were prepared on behalf of Congo's justice minister. Belgium appointed an investigating magistrate in response, a lawyer for Congo said in January. Sign in to access your portfolio
