The United States of America has returned seven pieces of the 11th and the 12th ancient Khmer sculptures to Cambodia for preservation and management after
the U.S. authorities confiscated from the sale, and those trafficked and stolen artifacts from Cambodia. H.E. Men Sam An, Permanent Prime Minister and representative of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said at the national museum that this repatriation ceremony takes place at the same as the U.S. and Cambodia are celebrating the 60th Anniversary of diplomatic relations.
“Today’s ceremony shows another step forward of bilateral cooperation between two countries,” she said during the handing over ceremony of the Khmer ancient artifacts on July 17th in Phnom Penh.
She added the act of handing the antiquities over to the Royal Government of Cambodia shows that the artifacts are important to Cambodians and to people of other countries to understand about rich culture of Cambodia under the slogan “Cambodia, the kingdom of Khmer culture. “This will make us work harder to protect and preserve Cambodian culture for interest of the nation,” she stated. “The Royal Government of Cambodia has a big responsibility to protect and preserve Cambodian culture such as preventing any illegal activity and in promoting its culture.”
She continued to say that the government has also integrated cultural field into the framework of nationaleconomic development and clearly understands that preserving and protecting the cultural heritage do not serve only for purpose of tourism, but also for contribution to preserve national identity and building social foundation for sustainable and equitable economic development.
“I am strongly confident that the bilateral relations between Cambodia and the U.S will be further strengthened,” she said. William Burns, Under Secretary of
State for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United States who is in charge of Political Affairs, said at the ceremony that these items were recovered as part
of “operation antiquity” a special program conducted by immigration and customs officials in the department of homeland security to investigate cultural antiquities trafficking from Southeast Asia to the United States. “We remain committed to helping Cambodia preserve its culture heritage and it is our sincere hope that efforts such as operation antiquity will lead to the end of scourge of illegal antiquities trafficking,” he said.
“Let me wish U.S-Cambodian relations a happy 60th birthday and offer my best wishes for even stronger relations over the next 60 years.” H.E. Him Chhem, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, said at the event of Khmer antiquities handing over from the U.S government: “I am pleased to express deep thanks to American’s generous people and government for returning the seven pieces of Khmer artifacts to the royal government of Cambodia. Returning these items is like returning the souls of Khmer ancestors to their bodies after dozens of years of separation and so, reviving the bodies. The artifacts included a head of divinity, body
of Apsara, and other objects and most made of sandstone and bronze.”
He added: “This is not the first time that we have received antiquities from the generous American people and government, up to now the government has received 27 pieces of artifacts in total from the American people and government. And these items are now being kept and displayed in the national museum of Cambodia. Meanwhile, the U.S embassy in Cambodia has conducted training courses to strengthen the capacities of Cambodian antiquity officials so that they can analyze and
evaluate antiquities to better preserve and protect antiquities, and eliminate all forms of trafficking in artifacts.” The U.S Embassy in Cambodia, through its ambassador Fund for cultural preservation, has provided assistance in preserving and protecting Khmer heritage, tangle and intangible, he said, adding that the U.S help repair Hanchey temple in Kampong Cham province and Bakheng temple in Siem Reap province, provide funds to Cambodia and foreign researchers to do research excavation at sites that are facing with deterioration and destruction.
Train technical staff of the Cambodian national museum and provide opportunities for students for the Royal Universities of fine arts to study from national and international experts at excavation sites, preserve manuscripts at the national library, and promote arts through training the next generation of artists to better understand the meanings of Khmer traditional dance. The activities reflect the generosity of the U.S. government in contributing to preserving Khmer cultural heritage. “We will not forget them,” he said. (SEAW)

BY CHHORNG LONG HENGA