Kediri, East Java. The Regent of Kediri, Hanindhito Himawan Pramana, has called on looters to return cultural artifacts stolen during violent demonstrations on Saturday that left government offices burned and the Bagawanta Bhari Museum ransacked.

Among the missing items are the head of a Ganesha statue, ancient batik textiles, a miniature traditional granary, and a Bodhisattva sculpture. Hanindhito urged the public to report any information on the whereabouts of the artifacts and appealed directly to the looters to hand them back.

“We sincerely hope these treasures are returned. Cultural heritage holds immense historical value and should never be a target of looting,” the regent said on Sunday.

Following the unrest, officials from Kediri’s Tourism and Culture Office secured the remaining museum collection to prevent further losses.

The violence also devastated the Kediri government complex. The parliament building, administrative offices, and vehicles inside the compound were set ablaze, leaving much of the site in ruins and disrupting operations.

Despite the destruction, Hanindhito stressed that government duties and public services will continue.

Add as a preferred source on Google +