Cambodia will get its artefacts back eventually, says ministry

By Pakamard Jaichalard,
Nanthida Puangthong
The Nation

The Thai Cultural Ministry has told the Cambodian government it will continue to hold 36 historic artefacts seized from smugglers in 2000 pending negotiations and confirmation of their ownership.

Cambodia had asked for the return of the artefacts, which were among a haul of 43 its officials say were stolen. The ministry says the items are being well kept as it examines the case before a committee processes them for return to Cambodia.

On Sunday, Xinhua news agency reported that Him Chhem, Cambodia's minister of culture and fine arts, had said he asked Sompong Sanguanbun, Thai ambassador to Cambodia, to process the remaining artefacts back to Cambodia.

Thailand seized the 43 stolen artefacts in 2000 and returned seven items to Cambodia in 2009. It was also reported that besides the 43 stolen pieces bound for Thailand, at least five others were stolen and smuggled to Switzerland. Another artefact went to Indonesia.

Thai Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat yesterday said the matter was negotiable between the two countries. The artefact identification procedure could be speeded up if Thailand set up a special committee for the purpose. He said that if the evidence showed the items belonged to Cambodia, Thailand would return them.

Nipit said Fine Arts Department chief Somsuda Leeyawanich told him that Cambodia had confirmed ownership of the seven items already returned, while the remaining 36 were being kept pending clear evidence and bilateral negotiations.

Anan Chuchote, director of the Office of the National Museum, said the 36 items were currently kept at the National Museum in Pathum Thani's Klong 5 area. After talks between the two countries and confirmation of ownership, his office would have a committee process them speedily.

Thani Thongpakdi, director-general of the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Information Department, said he had not heard about the Cambodian request but the two countries had existing agreements and Thailand had already returned some of the stolen artefacts to Cambodia. The rest were under a process of inspection before returning.

After the Thai Customs Department seized the 43 artefacts from smugglers in 2000, the items, mostly temple-decorating sculptures, were sent to the Fine Arts Department for keeping. After a Cambodian request, Thai authorities processed seven items and found they were Bayon Cambodian art pieces from around the 18th Buddhist Era.

On June 12, 2009, prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, during an official visit to Cambodia, returned six demon sculptures and one angel sculpture to Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, in accordance with the agreement to return stolen artefacts to their rightful owners.