Padrão gehört Namibia

Dear Mr. Leuschner, I am of the opinion - taking into consideration my own research and investigations - that the cross belongs to Namibia. In that regard I would like to point to the following:

The Hague Convention of 1907 forbade pillaging. This was followed by another Hague Convention of 1954, which dealt with the protection of cultural property or heritage. Add to this the 1955 International Institute for the Unification of Private Law Convention, which further deals with stolen goods or illicitly exported cultural objects, which calls for the return of such illegally acquired and exported cultural objects. And the 1970 UNESCO- Convention against illicit export under the Cultural Implementation Act also allows for stolen goods and objects to be seized, if there is documentary proof. Finally the 1978 UNESCO-Convection further strengthens the case for the return of cultural property to the country of origin or for that matter the restitution in cases, where illicit appropriation has been established. Best regards,

Manuel Coelho, Portuguese Community Representative in Namibia