Dr. Michel Tranet (Photo: RFA)
By Sok Khemara, VOA KhmerWashington
03 February 2009
Not a single Cambodian temple has been immune to looting or war, a scientist said Monday, calling for the preservation of the temples as necessary for cultural identity.
“How can one identify us as Khmer, if we don’t preserve the culture and temples our ancestors left for us?” said Michel Tranet, a doctoral archeologist, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
At least 1,000 historic temples in Cambodia face “destruction” from looting and war, he said.
“This is not just a crime, but it’s cultural suicide,” he said. “I’m really suffering, seeing our artifacts on the market, but what can I do?”
Asked by one “Hello VOA” caller where temple artifacts are sold, Tranet emphasized that the digging, looting, destruction, trafficking, sale and purchase of artifacts is a crime.
“I’ve scavenged for artifacts before,” the caller, from Kampong Thom, said. “We dug three to four meters underneath temples. We usually found gold. But one day, I got a statue. When we took the statue home, a business man came…. He took it and he did not pay me. I was cheated. Where did he sell it?”
Tranet, who once served as undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Culture, also emphasized the importance of identifying Cambodian artifacts on the market.
“We do not have a full inventory yet, even though there are efforts from the Ministry of Culture and the government,” he said.
In January, Thailand agreed to return a group of statues that had been seized by Thai police as looters left Cambodia.
“How can one identify us as Khmer, if we don’t preserve the culture and temples our ancestors left for us?” said Michel Tranet, a doctoral archeologist, as a guest on “Hello VOA.”
At least 1,000 historic temples in Cambodia face “destruction” from looting and war, he said.
“This is not just a crime, but it’s cultural suicide,” he said. “I’m really suffering, seeing our artifacts on the market, but what can I do?”
Asked by one “Hello VOA” caller where temple artifacts are sold, Tranet emphasized that the digging, looting, destruction, trafficking, sale and purchase of artifacts is a crime.
“I’ve scavenged for artifacts before,” the caller, from Kampong Thom, said. “We dug three to four meters underneath temples. We usually found gold. But one day, I got a statue. When we took the statue home, a business man came…. He took it and he did not pay me. I was cheated. Where did he sell it?”
Tranet, who once served as undersecretary of state for the Ministry of Culture, also emphasized the importance of identifying Cambodian artifacts on the market.
“We do not have a full inventory yet, even though there are efforts from the Ministry of Culture and the government,” he said.
In January, Thailand agreed to return a group of statues that had been seized by Thai police as looters left Cambodia.
7 comments:
Keep the king that all our culture!
every body watch andlisten here:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=6wpGCW9ot2Q
International’s effort and UNESCO will use all of the capability in their power to clamp down on this practice. The stealing of artifacts in Cambodia has been ignored for many decades due to civil war and poverty.
They need to stop at both sides. It can’t just be stopped at Cambodia’s side, but on international’s vendors as well in order to achieve this ambition.
May god bless Cambodia and the people!
All artifacts must be used to promote tourism to help create job for Khmer people. It should not be left underground to rot away. This is no difference from oil. It must be dig up and use to help the country.
i think people don't understand the importance of these ancient khmer relics are to cambodia. it is like saling the only home you have. where else are you going to live? more education is needed for cambodia as only ignorance or lack of understanding caused these king of destruction. i think all khmer cultural artifacts, when founded, should be donated to the national museum of cambodia, instead of saling them overseas. more education, please!
2:44AM poor, desparet, and hungry do make people stupid!!!!
Thank to ah Hun Xen, the King, and UNTAC!!!!
Hey, if you want to eat, get a job; and if you can't find a job, see ah Scam Rainxy because he's the one who send all Khmer's job to China, Vietnam, Laos, and Burma.
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