Bringing Keris with you to Indonesia and back

[shadejoy]

Shipping the Keris is definitely an option. In fact, all of my Kerises were sent through FedEx from Indonesia. I encountered no issue receiving via shipping mail. FedEx took care and sent me billing of custom fee a few days after receiving the package.

But through this thread, I am weighing the pros and cons of bringing the Keris with me instead. Trying to do my homework and not leaving anything up to chance. I will only bring two pieces of Keris with me.

Take away I can see here is DECLARE, DECLARE, DECLARE. I will have them sheathed and securely wrapped in checked baggage. Getting an invoice indicating the pieces are souvenirs is a good idea as well on my way back to US ..thank you for the hint.
Given the fact that we don't break any rules I think Indonesia airport authority have come along way since the days of 'salam tempel'. But ultimately, I should 'prepare' myself for any scenario that might play out since experiences with Indonesian custom seem to be varied. Being forthright. And Polite too, of course ..which is a default mode for any settings.

Thank you all for your input, much appreciated!

[ariel]

In any authoritarian society the severity of laws is mitigated by their selective obedience.
In Russia, for example, this rule is formulated as:” The law is like a telegraph pole: you cannot jump over it, but you can just go around “.

[David]

Originally Posted by ariel

In any authoritarian society the severity of laws is mitigated by their selective obedience.
In Russia, for example, this rule is formulated as:” The law is like a telegraph pole: you cannot jump over it, but you can just go around “.

I am not sure that i would equate a nation's attempt to keep its cultural history from being sold out from under them to by banning export of one of their most important cultural artifacts a form of "authoritarianism". I think it is more a matter of cultural preservation.

[milandro]

I am not even sure that there is necessarily a ban to export krises from Indonesia per se in fact, I don’t think so, both new and old are routinely exported.

[David]

Originally Posted by milandro

I am not even sure that there is necessarily a ban to export krises from Indonesia per se in fact, I don’t think so, both new and old are routinely exported.

I believe Alan posted links to the actual laws that apply to this in post #14.

[milandro]

As I understand, these laws apply in general to anything that may be of historical national museum interest, like in most countries, but that is not necessarily applying to the krises (per se) or they would completely freeze the trade of krises both old and new is an industry in Indonesia. I see lots of legal businesses legally and openly trading in krises.

[David]

Originally Posted by milandro

As I understand, these laws apply in general to anything that may be of historical national museum interest, like in most countries, but that is not necessarily applying to the krises (per se) or they would completely freeze the trade of krises both old and new is an industry in Indonesia. I see lots of legal businesses legally and openly trading in krises.

I think that these laws undoubtedly apply to keris. The fact that antique keris are still sold and removed from the country is not surprising, but that doesn't mean it is being done legally or without some kind of government regulation.