Cambodia & Culture: The Royal Government officially marks the return of 70 Khmer cultural artefacts

The Royal Governement held a ceremony this morning to officially marks the return of 70 Khmer cultural artefacts.

In her remarks, H.E. Ms. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, stated that the purpose of this celebration was to officially welcome the return of 70 Khmer cultural objects, “which constitute the legacy of Khmer ancestors, after having been absent from Cambodia for a considerable period of time due to circumstances including war, theft, and illegal trade abroad”.

The return of these Khmer ancestors' souls is the result of the concerted efforts of the Royal Government of Cambodia, in collaboration with a multitude of relevant partners, including public institutions, private sectors, national and international experts, as well as various countries, particularly the Government of the United States, through the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, Homeland Security Investigations, and the Manhattan District Attorney's Office.

In his speech, Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet expressed profound gratitude to all officials and key persons for their instrumental role in the successful repatriation of these cultural objects:

“The Royal Government will persist with this historic policy, demonstrating a robust commitment to the protection and prevention of the trafficking and illicit trade of cultural assets, as well as the pursuit and reclamation of national heritage, with the objective of establishing an enduring legacy for Cambodia's cultural and national identity for future generations”.

The return of these 70 Khmer cultural objects has been achieved through a variety of processes, including voluntary returns, negotiations, seizures, and legal proceedings. The objects have been returned from a number of different collections, including those belonging to the Lindemann family, Jim Clark, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and other private collectors in the United States.

The repatriated Khmer cultural artefacts encompass a number of significant Hindu and Buddhist masterpieces from the pre-Angkor and Angkor periods. Of particular note are the priceless stone statues, including a mythical warrior from the Hindu epic Mahabharata, as well as statues of Shiva and Uma. Additionally, the statue of Ardhanarishvara from the ancient capital of Koh Ker, as well as the bronze head of Lokeshvara, which has been reunited with its body at the National Museum of Phnom Penh after being separated for decades due to the effects of war and illicit trafficking, have also been returned.