Phnom Penh: The Chairman of the Committee on Religious Affairs, Culture and Tourism, Hun Many, has expressed his deep gratitude to the Royal Government of Cambodia for its efforts of demanding back to the Kingdom a series of antiquities and valuable cultural treasures that were in the hands of a British family for years. "Returning these artifacts back home is not only a joy for the Cambodian people, but also a demonstration of gaining a national soul lost”, said the Prime Minister’s son, Hun Many.
The repatriation is in accordance with the agreement signed 29 January of this year, between the Royal Government of Cambodia and the family of Douglas Latchford. Through his Facebook page this Thursday 30 September, Hun Many confirmed that to be sent "from England to the motherland of Cambodia will be important artifacts of our culture, including bronze statues, five unique jewels and more than 100 stones.”
Hun Many has thanked the United Kingdom “for its good cooperation with the Royal Government of Cambodia to help make the process of returning artifacts a success.” He expressed gratitude saying the “wonderful gesture underscores the good relationship between the two governments in supporting each other in tasks that are important for maintaining and enhancing their respective national identities."
In the past few years, Cambodia has received back from the UK gold artifacts from the Angkorian period and other objects of cultural value. A series of other artifacts have also been returned from other countries, such as the United States, Japan and Thailand.
According to the announcement of the Ministry of Culture, the Khmer statues sent from England back to Cambodia include statues of Shiva (Preah Iso and Preah Skant) from Koh Ker, the statue of Preah Athanari Svara (Preah Iso and Neang Uma) and a bronze boat helmet. These five statues will be kept at the National Museum of Phnom Penh for the expert team to inspect, clean, repair and install the necessary pedestals for an official handover ceremony, which has not yet been scheduled by the Royal Government.
