Staff of the archaeological group Heritage Watch document Thailand's ancient temples. Armed looters with metal detectors have been plundering one of Cambodia's most important temples, according to Heritage Watch. (AFP/File/HO)PHNOM PENH (AFP) - Armed looters with metal detectors have been plundering one of Cambodia's most important temples, the archaeological group Heritage Watch said Monday.
Looters have been plundering the area around Preah Khan, Cambodia's largest temple enclosure, trying to remove the few statues remaining in the complex as well as searching for valuable bronze artefacts, Heritage Watch director Dougald O'Reilly said in a statement.
The temple, in the northern province of Preah Vihear, is unguarded and difficult to reach. This makes it an easy target for a growing number of tomb raiders who have been destroying archaeological sites across the country's northern provinces.
"This magnificent temple complex stands as an example of what will happen to Cambodia's heritage if protective action is not taken," O'Reilly said.
"Nearly every carving in Preah Khan has been violently hacked away."
The looters reportedly have the backing of local officials, O'Reilly said.
Large-scale looting of Cambodia's artefacts is continuing despite efforts to protect its temples and Iron Age burial sites.
O'Reilly estimates that most of Cambodia's pre-Angkorian sites will be completely destroyed within three years if the plundering continues at its present pace.
Cambodia's temples are one of its biggest tourist attractions. The famed Angkor Wat temple complex in northwestern Cambodia is the country's most popular tourist destination.
Looters have been plundering the area around Preah Khan, Cambodia's largest temple enclosure, trying to remove the few statues remaining in the complex as well as searching for valuable bronze artefacts, Heritage Watch director Dougald O'Reilly said in a statement.
The temple, in the northern province of Preah Vihear, is unguarded and difficult to reach. This makes it an easy target for a growing number of tomb raiders who have been destroying archaeological sites across the country's northern provinces.
"This magnificent temple complex stands as an example of what will happen to Cambodia's heritage if protective action is not taken," O'Reilly said.
"Nearly every carving in Preah Khan has been violently hacked away."
The looters reportedly have the backing of local officials, O'Reilly said.
Large-scale looting of Cambodia's artefacts is continuing despite efforts to protect its temples and Iron Age burial sites.
O'Reilly estimates that most of Cambodia's pre-Angkorian sites will be completely destroyed within three years if the plundering continues at its present pace.
Cambodia's temples are one of its biggest tourist attractions. The famed Angkor Wat temple complex in northwestern Cambodia is the country's most popular tourist destination.
6 comments:
They blaimed their government for being corrupted. They blaimed foreign colonies. They themselves don't even follow the traffic law causing hundreds killed every month in the country. Now they steal their own artefacts that will generate unlimited revenue from tourism. Khmer people are repeatedly killed their chicken that lays the golden eggs. Now who do we blaim?
Hey you! Sucker! are you a Viet or Hun Sen's relative?
Yes!!! Hun Sen's Government is to be blaim for every thing, you stupid head!!!
Government should educate poeple about the laws and reinforce them that the job of goverment!
Hun Sen's police not even catch the criminal who shot people in public.Hun sen use police and sodier only to protect His and Viet's interres.
Hun Sen keep poeple staving and uneducated while his famolies have at lease 5 cars each and million of US$ under their bed!
Hun Sen allow people to do any thing to destroy Cambodia, historic, spirit, and life!
If people stage a demonstration -yes your Sucker can stop it. If you need land for your corrupted group or your boss Viet, yes you Sucker can chase, force, and kill poeple to get those.
But if for only Cambodia interest you Hun Sen Sucker can not do anything!
UN have to asked Hun Sen's government to solve land dispute, no you Sucker can not do that! -UNESCO ask you to protect Khmer hiritage, no You Sucker can not do that!
Don't you know how to read? the armed man ,the authority ( Mean Hun Sen Group) you sucker who behind all of those looting. I think Viet Name is behind every thing to destroy Cambodia,
You mother killer make Cambodian kill eachother and destroy our hiritage and soul. You Hun Sen Sucker, Mother Killer control the whole country by force and rhe whol world know that! Don't blame Cambodian.
May lightning stricke who lie like you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey!... you sucker Anonymous #1 at 11:24 PM. What do you mean by saying "They" blaimed their government? If you are Khmer you are not suppose to use the word "They". So you are Vietnamese, the first enemy of the Khmer people. "Ah youn kompup ter ong". Did you know that "Thing will go around and come around". Youn or Vietnamese will be destroyed and wiped out from the World Map for the next 5 years. You youn Sucker are not happy with your succeed invation to Cambodian Land and Laos Land any longer. All the component things in the world are changable.
Eh you! Viet Cong, ever go to Cambodia? ask your slave Hun Sen for the true.
Their are no light on the street at night in Phnom Pehn, the stupid Goverment put dividing-concrets in the midle of the streets with no reflection on them. Do you know how many poeple get kill by hitting the concret? Ask your stupid Father (Hun Sen)
And How many hole on the street? when the do the construction they never put signe to let people know. do you know how mony poeple get kill? ask your dump Gorvrnment.
Who mostly cost the accident, because hun Sen Police do not do the job, drunken Hun Sen officer (may Be aa Youn) and his nephue and when poeple stop and looke at them they shoot and kill. Do you ever heard that Viet Namese?
Hey !!! the Slave of Viet Cong! Do you know how many Viet Cong are there in the blind government of Cambodia today? They are: Ho nam Hong, Om Yin Tieng, Sok An, Chom Prasit, Lim Kim Lien, Tea Banh, Kiet Chhon, Bu Thon, Hok Lundi, Sok Kong, ...There are up to 75 percent of them in the Slave Government of Cambodia. 25 percent of them are Khmer but they are stupid like pigs. I used to hear Nguyen Xuan Dai and Vu Minh Chim said on 1984 to the 25 percent of the stupid Khmer such as Heng Sam Rin, Hun Sen, Chea Sim that, all of them are likewise pigs, "Bon Heo" in Vietnamese language. "Ah Chrouk" in Khmer. Dai and Chim compare Hun Sen as Ah Chrouk. How can Ah Chrouk smart enough to help their own khmer people.
Khmer die every day, Ah Chrouk never care. Parts of Khmerland are lost every day, Ah Chrouk never care. Youn (Viet) come to Cambodia, now up to 5 milion Youn, Ah Chrouk never care.
I think the Thai are born to steal. These people have not built a temple but they tokk some from us and they are still greedy and try to steal more. These people are really stupid and arrogant since they respect none´s property and value.
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