The articles earmarked for return were among thousands of statues and other Buddhist and Hindu relics found at the former Central Investigation Bureau chief’s home. As soon as images of the secret hoard appeared in media reports, the Cambodian Foreign Ministry asked for representatives to be allowed to inspect it.
This permission has so far not been forthcoming and Cambodian National Museum director Kong Vireak says he has no idea what items are being returned or when they will arrive. Koy Kuong, a spokesperson for the Foreign Ministry, said Thailand is also carrying out investigations on a further 20 pieces to ascertain whether they are genuine Khmer artefacts or not.
Mr Vireak said he hoped that Cambodian experts would be allowed to have a look at the objects and assist with determining their authenticity. After surveying the artefacts when they were discovered two months ago, Thai historians claimed that many of them were in fact replicas.
The Thai Fine Arts Department said the antiquities that appeared genuine looked as though they came from the Phnom Da ruins in Cambodia’s Takeo Province and could be 1,400 years old. As well as the artworks and antiquities found in Pongpat Chayapan’s treasure trove were large piles of cash, rare animal skins, and intact tusks of ivory.
Thailand to send looted artefacts back to Cambodia
News in Asia
Thai authorities have released a statement saying they will send some ancient artefacts back to Cambodia. Thailand says the 16 artefacts were found in a secret hoard uncovered at the residence of disgraced police commander Pongpat Chayapan.