[MSN] Australia's High Commission in London has stepped in to help the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre prevent a British museum gathering data from the remains of 17 Aboriginal Tasmanians.

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High Commission urges museum against testing Aboriginal remains
Saturday, 13 January 2007. 08:28 (AEDT)Saturday, 13 January 2007. 07:28
(ACST)Saturday, 13 January 2007. 07:28 (AEST)Saturday, 13 January 2007.
08:28 (ACDT)Saturday, 13 January 2007. 06:28 (AWDT)

Australia's High Commission in London has stepped in to help the Tasmanian
Aboriginal Centre prevent a British museum gathering data from the remains
of 17 Aboriginal Tasmanians.

Last year, the Natural History Museum agreed to return the remains to
Tasmania, but before releasing them it wants to scan them and collect
molecular data.

A spokesman for Prime Minister John Howard says the High Commission has
spoken to the museum and to the relevant department in the British
Government, urging them to respect the centre's wishes.

Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre spokesman Michael Mansell says the data
collection is due to start in February, so this is the last chance to change
the museum's plans.

"If the Prime Minister's office continues to exert pressure on the Natural
History Museum and the British Government, there is every hope that the
Natural History Museum will not go ahead with their threatened plan," he
said.

The centre has thanked Mr Howard for attempting to stop the data collection.

Mr Mansell says Mr Howard has already helped convince the British Government
to pass legislation enabling the repatriation of Aboriginal remains.

"He's been very good on this," he said.

"I've condemned the Prime Minister's record generally on Aboriginal affairs,
but he's been very good on this and I think it's commendable that the Prime
Minister has taken this up as an issue and so far he has got terrific
results."

In a statement, management at the British Natural History Museum say the
data collection issue is a decision for its trustees.

But the museum has confirmed it has received a letter from the High
Commissioner in London.

It says the data collection is expected to take three months, after which
the remains will be returned to Tasmania.

http://www.abc.net.au/