Thai PM Paetongtarn Refutes Claims of Returning Antiquities to Cambodia

• Paetongtarn dismissed rumors, confirming no antiquities returned due to ongoing border tensions and budget constraints.
• She warned of legal action against those spreading false reports and emphasized careful review before any repatriation.

BANGKOK Thailand's Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra, addressed the media at the Ministry of Culture. She responded to rumors about the return of 20 antiquities to Cambodia by calling the claims "false" and threatening legal action against those spreading misinformation.

She stated that the problem began in 2015, under Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, when 23 antiquities were returned to Cambodia after it was discovered that they had been illegally imported from Singapore since 2000.

On May 21, 2024, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin's government approved the return of an additional 20 items based on Ministry of Culture recommendations, after experts confirmed their origin as Cambodia. 

However, the process has yet to be completed due to insufficient funds in the Fine Arts Department's budget for the current fiscal year, and the issue has not been prioritized for allocation from the central budget.

Paetongtarn stated that, given the current state of Thai-Cambodian relations, the Ministry of Culture felt it necessary to "review" the situation before returning the artefacts. As a result, no action has been taken at the moment.

Meanwhile, Jirayu Huangsap, spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office, addressed malicious rumours about the Ministry of Culture's plan to return 20 antiquities to Cambodia.

He explained that this case dates back to 2000, when the Customs Department seized 43 antiquities that resembled Cambodian artifacts that had been illegally imported from Singapore. The Fine Arts Department examined 23 items and returned them at that time.

The Cambodian government later filed a request to receive the remaining 20 artifacts, submitting documents and evidence to back up their claim.

Following further investigation by the Fine Arts Department, several committees determined that these 20 items originated in Cambodia. As a result, the Ministry of Culture intends to return the antiquities to Cambodia in accordance with international law.

Jirayu went on to say that this issue has been going on for 25 years, and he was perplexed as to why some people are still attacking the Ministry of Culture about it.

Also Read: Leaked Call With Cambodian Leader Leads to Thai PM Suspension

He emphasized that Thailand has successfully recovered numerous Thai artifacts from abroad, including Europe and other countries. He emphasized that criticizing the government on this issue would harm Thailand's reputation. Such actions may prevent other countries from returning Thai artefacts in the future, resulting in significant losses to the country and its cultural heritage.

He concluded by urging people to think about the nation's best interests, emphasizing that this issue is decades old and should not be used to incite unnecessary conflict, as it could jeopardize Thailand's efforts to recover other important artefacts from abroad.