Cambodia wants stolen artifacts returned

Cambodia wants stolen artifacts returned

By Thaksina Khaikaew

PRACHIN BURI, Thailand (AP): Prachin Buri archaeological
officials have some priceless artifacts they don't own and want
to give back - 117 pieces of an Angkor-era sandstone wall carving
from Cambodia.

Now under 24-hour watch at the provincial Art Museum, the wall
pieces were stolen from a temple in northwestern Cambodia and
smuggled into Thailand, part of the criminal plunder and traffic
of Cambodia's unique architectural heritage.

The shipment, seized Jan. 5, is believed to be the biggest of
smuggled Cambodian art items in the 20 years since the genocidal
Khmer Rouge regime lost power in Phnom Penh.

Highway police found the treasure crammed into a 10-wheel
truck that was making its way to Bangkok some 95 kilometers (57
miles) away, where antique shops supply a market for Khmer
artifacts.

The police detained the truck driver and a passenger, and sent
the artifacts to the museum to be identified.

Experts at Prachin Buri museum put the jigsaw pieces of the
carving together and figured that might have come from the walls
of the ancient Cambodian temple of Banteay Chmar near the border.

The temple is not part of the famed complex around Angkor Wat,
but was also comes from the era when the Khmer empire that ruled
much of Southeast Asia was at its zenith in the 12th and 13th
centuries.

"Even at first glance, it was so obvious to me they are
Cambodian artifacts," said Sakchai Pojnunvanich, the museum
director. "It is sad. As far as I can tell, the thief may have
hammered the whole temple wall to break off these priceless
sandstone carvings."

Archaeologist Amphan Kijngam pointed out that the looting of
Cambodian artifacts is not new. With willing and well-heeled
Western clients willing to buy from corrupt Cambodian officials
and soldiers and Thai dealers, the business is a lucrative one.

Antique shops in Thailand are known to order pieces looted to
order from poorly protected temples in Cambodia. Technicalities
in the Thai law - such as inability to trace ownership, for
example - prevent prosecution where bribes do not.

Amphan said that last year about 15 pieces were sent back to
Cambodia from Thailand, but they are a drop in the ocean compared
to the thousands of smuggled items which got through.

"The Cambodian authorities should claim them back as soon as
possible," said Amphan, who is waiting for the proper documents
to arrive. "If any piece goes missing, I can't afford to pay for
it."

Early this week, Cambodian King Norodom Sihanouk asked Prime
Minister Hun Sen to take appropriate measures to protect and
maintain the nation's treasures after he read about the looted
artifacts.

Cambodian spokesman Khieu Kanharith told The Associated Press
on Tuesday that his government will work with Thailand for the
return of the carvings.

Cambodia would be grateful to Thai police if they would pass
on the names of Cambodians believed responsible for negotiating
the deal to steal the stones and sell them, he said.

Punishment will be sought for Cambodian provincial officials,
he said.

"You cannot carry 100 pieces of artifacts weighting many tons
without the knowledge of the leaders in the area," Khieu
Kanharith said. "And if they say they did not know about it, then
they are incompetent."