Cambodia rejoices as its 'deities' return after a long search.


Cambodian officials recently celebrated the successful repatriation of numerous stolen artifacts in a ceremony at the prime minister's office in Phnom Penh. Over 200 relics, including stone sculptures and statues, were returned to Cambodia after years of research and diplomatic efforts. The artifacts had been looted from remote jungle sites and ended up in museums and private collections around the world. The repatriation efforts involved cooperation with museums and wealthy collectors in 15 countries, aided by U.S. investigators. Former looters provided crucial testimony to track the stolen statues, with evidence pointing to organized looting during the chaotic reign of the Khmer Rouge. The involvement of art dealer Douglas A.J. Latchford, who passed away in 2020, was highlighted in the investigations. Several museums, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Norton Simon Museum, and the Denver Art Museum, returned looted items to Cambodia. The repatriated artifacts, some dating back over 1,200 years, were displayed at the ceremony before being transported to the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh. While Cambodian officials continue to press for the return of additional looted objects, the successful repatriation was hailed as the reclaiming of the cultural legacy of their ancestors, which had been displaced due to war, theft, and illegal trade abroad.



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