The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has announced the impending return 13 Khmer artefacts to Cambodia. The pieces date from the Angkorian era and linked to the late Douglas “Dynamite Doug” Latchford, a notorious trafficker in looted antiquities.
In a December 18 press release, the ministry stated that the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco has made an official decision to return them home, following a unanimous vote by the Asian Art Commission on September 24.
The commission confirmed that the 13 exquisite artefacts were exported from Cambodia illegally, in violation of federal law, based on evidence uncovered by US Homeland Security investigations, Cambodian researchers and the museum team.
Among the objects are statues of deities, a male deity head, lion sculptures, and various architectural elements taken from temples.
According to the ministry, analysis of the evidence by museum experts and investigators confirmed that these objects are linked to the trafficking network of Douglas Latchford and were stolen from Cambodia during periods of civil war and insecurity.
“These returned exquisite objects are part of the Khmer cultural heritage and national identity. This is not only a restoration of cultural memory but also a healing of the psychological wounds left for decades by war and the loss of national cultural heritage,” culture minister Phoeurng Sackona was quoted as saying.
She expressed appreciation for the Asian Art Museum for its transparency in sharing information with Cambodia regarding the origins of the objects and relevant documents.
“This openness is crucially important as it provides us the possibility to reveal the truth about the history of cultural properties and to seek justice in this case. When all relevant institutions can share evidence and information about origins openly and honestly, it helps drive efforts to restore the sacred cultural heritage of Cambodia, the owner of those legacies,” she added.
She also thanked the museum and all relevant parties who assisted in coordinating this work.
