Thai PM Paetongtarn denies rumours of returning antiquities to Cambodia

The Star

05-07-2025

BANGKOK Paetongtarn Shinawatra, the Prime Minister of Thailand, addressed the media on Friday (July 4) at the Ministry of Culture following her appointment as Minister of Culture.
She responded to rumours regarding the return of 20 antiquities to Cambodia, stating that the claims were "false" and that legal action would be taken against those spreading such misinformation.
She said the issue dates back to 2015, during the government of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, when 23 antiquities were returned to Cambodia after it was discovered they had been illicitly imported from Singapore since 2000.
Subsequently, on May 21, 2024, the government of Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin approved the return of an additional 20 items, based on recommendations from the Ministry of Culture, after experts confirmed their origin as Cambodia.
However, the process has not yet been carried out due to insufficient funds in the Fine Arts Department's budget for the current fiscal year, and the issue has not been prioritised for allocation from the central budget.
Paetongtarn stated that, given the current state of Thai-Cambodian relations, the Ministry of Culture deemed it necessary to "review" the matter before proceeding with the return of the artefacts. As a result, no action has been taken at this time.
Meanwhile, Jirayu Huangsap, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, also addressed the rumours spread by malicious individuals regarding the Ministry of Culture's plan to return 20 antiquities to Cambodia.
He explained that this matter dates back to 2000 when the Customs Department seized 43 antiquities that resembled Cambodian artefacts, which had been illegally imported from Singapore.
Following an examination by the Fine Arts Department, 23 items were returned at that time.
The Cambodian government later filed a request to receive the remaining 20 artefacts, submitting documents and evidence to support their claim.
After further investigation by the Fine Arts Department, several committees concluded that these 20 items originated from Cambodia. As a result, the Ministry of Culture plans to return the antiquities to Cambodia in accordance with international law.
Jirayu added that this issue dates back 25 years, and he expressed confusion as to why some individuals continue to attack the Ministry of Culture over it.
He pointed out that Thailand has successfully reclaimed numerous Thai artefacts from abroad, including from Europe and other countries. He emphasised that attacking the government over this matter would be detrimental to tarnishing the reputation of Thailand's efforts. Such actions could prevent other countries from returning Thai artefacts in the future, resulting in significant losses for the nation and its cultural heritage.
He concluded by urging people to consider the nation's best interests, stressing that this issue is decades old and should not be used to create unnecessary conflict, as it could ultimately harm Thailand's efforts to recover other important artefacts from abroad.
The beginning of the process to return the antiquities to Cambodia dates back to 2000, when the Customs Department seized 43 Cambodian artefacts that had been illegally imported from Singapore.
The Fine Arts Department later conducted an inspection and returned 23 artefacts to Cambodia in accordance with Cabinet resolutions on February 24, 2009, and January 13, 2015.
However, 20 items remained unresolved. The Fine Arts Department was unable to confirm whether these 20 items were cultural properties originating from Cambodia, as they were artefacts that could be found in both Thailand and Cambodia's historical sites.
Therefore, on January 13, 2015, the Cabinet resolved that the Fine Arts Department should inform the Cambodian government of the inspection results. If the Cambodian government wished to reclaim the 20 items, it was requested to provide written evidence confirming that the artefacts originated from Cambodia.
However, the Minister of Culture stated today that, due to the ongoing border dispute between the two nations, it would not be appropriate to return the antiquities to Cambodia at this time.
- Photo: The Nation/ANN
The Cambodian government submitted a formal request to reclaim the remaining 20 antiquities, providing documentation and evidence to substantiate its claim. Following an inspection by the Fine Arts Department, it was confirmed that all 20 artefacts originated from Cambodia.
The Ministry of Culture thus sought approval to return the 20 artefacts to Cambodia.
In 2024, Rudklao Intawong Suwankiri, the Deputy Spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, announced that the Cabinet had approved the Ministry of Culture to return the 20 antiquities to Cambodia.
This action is in line with the bilateral agreement between the governments of Thailand and Cambodia and aims to strengthen the relationship between the two nations, demonstrating Thailand's commitment to adhering to the terms of the agreement.
As of April 25, 2025, Nation TV reported that the government spokesperson issued a statement from the Fine Arts Department, confirming that following the Cabinet's resolution in 2024, both countries' Ministries of Culture have coordinated logistics for the transfer of the artefacts. The delivery is expected to be made by land via Siem Reap and is anticipated to take place in July 2025. - The Nation/ANN