Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, second right, and Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, left, stand by a piece from Cambodian artifacts of the Angkorian era during a ceremony in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Heng Sinith / AP)Statues from 12th century Angkorian era include heads of Hindu god Shiva
Friday, June 12, 2009
AP
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - Thailand returned seven treasures from Cambodia's Golden Age to its neighbor Friday as the countries pledged to prevent further smuggling of antiquities.
The statues from the 12th century Angkorian era, including six heads of the Hindu god Shiva, were handed to Cambodian officials during an official one-day visit by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Thai authorities seized them from smugglers in 1999.
Widespread looting of Cambodia's ancient temples has occurred in recent decades, with many items smuggled into Thailand for sale on the international antiques markets or to private collectors.
"The return of these artifacts shows that Cambodia and Thailand enjoy good cooperation and respect each other's laws," said Cambodia Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.
Eang Sophalleth, spokesman for Prime Minister Hun Sen, said the two sides agreed to cooperate in stamping out smuggling of national antiquities, and that the prime minister urged Thailand to return 36 other artifacts that belonged to Cambodia.
Both countries also agreed to speedily resolve a dispute over the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
Tensions flared in July last year when UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have Preah Vihear named a World Heritage Site, leading some Thais to believe their claims to the surrounding land would be undermined.
Since then, several soldiers on both sides have been killed in gunbattles in the area, but neither side will back down.
The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty of the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.
The statues from the 12th century Angkorian era, including six heads of the Hindu god Shiva, were handed to Cambodian officials during an official one-day visit by Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva. Thai authorities seized them from smugglers in 1999.
Widespread looting of Cambodia's ancient temples has occurred in recent decades, with many items smuggled into Thailand for sale on the international antiques markets or to private collectors.
"The return of these artifacts shows that Cambodia and Thailand enjoy good cooperation and respect each other's laws," said Cambodia Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.
Eang Sophalleth, spokesman for Prime Minister Hun Sen, said the two sides agreed to cooperate in stamping out smuggling of national antiquities, and that the prime minister urged Thailand to return 36 other artifacts that belonged to Cambodia.
Both countries also agreed to speedily resolve a dispute over the 11th century Preah Vihear temple.
Tensions flared in July last year when UNESCO, the U.N. cultural agency, approved Cambodia's bid to have Preah Vihear named a World Heritage Site, leading some Thais to believe their claims to the surrounding land would be undermined.
Since then, several soldiers on both sides have been killed in gunbattles in the area, but neither side will back down.
The World Court awarded the temple to Cambodia in 1962, but sovereignty of the surrounding land has never been clearly resolved.
5 comments:
The head seems resembling one of the guard statue faces at Bayon causeway in front of the entrance gate.
Who was the last governor of Siem Reap during the 1970-1975 era?
hun sen Will resale them all .
Thailand exchange these stone for 4.6km lands around Preah vihear...
thailand people kept saying that that want cambodia to prove that the other 43 or so pieces of khmer ancient artefacts are khmer in origin; what a thief they really are. everybody in the world already know that the ancient artefacts are khmer in origin when they see one. what does thailand mean that cambodia has to prove that it belongs to khmer? makes no sense! we demand thailand to return all of our stolen khmer ancient artefacts now! god bless cambodia.
Now the whold world knew who had stolen Khmer artifacts, and the rest artifacts in Thailand national museum nowadays are belonging to Cambodia...
Thailand is the land of thieft and gay-lesbians country!
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