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."