Anyone in Cambodia who has cultural artifacts in his or her possession has until Sept 27 to turn them over to the government.
The clock started running on March 27, when Prime Minister Hun Sen signed a circular stating that those “who possess antique objects of cultural significance” must give them up within six months or face prosecution.
That covers anything from Khmer sculptures or bas-reliefs to prehistoric pots or ancient items unearthed from prehistoric graves, material that legally belongs to the public and should not be in private hands. The circular, aimed at ending the looting of archeological and cultural sites, is the strongest Etienne Clement has seen in more than 10 years of battling cultural pillaging here.
“The Prime Minister’s circular says that this must stop now,” said Clement, who heads the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s Cambodia office. “It is clear there is real political will to give weight to this matter.”
The new circular prohibits unauthorized excavations at archaeological sites or other areas where cultural artifacts have been discovered, or where people think they might be hidden.
“It is prohibited, in the entire territory of the country, to conduct excavations in search of cultural objects or build new constructions on locations where there are remains of cultural objects, or where historical constructions exist,” the circular states.
Those who ignore the law will face sanctions under the 1996 Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage, which sets penalties of
anywhere from six months to five years in prison, as well as fines based on the value of the illegal item, according to the circular. The circular orders an inter-ministerial group to “find a solution for the compensation to those who have returned the objects.”
In recent years, as security has increased around the major Angkorian-era temples, unscrupulous art dealers have turned their attention to pots, knives, beads, swords, and other artifacts commonly found at historic or archeological sites.
In some poor areas of Cambodia, villagers have been sneaking into archaeological sites at night and digging up artifacts to sell to the dealers.
Hun Sen’s circular orders local authorities, police, and cultural officials to take immediate steps to protect the following eight sites:
• A prehistoric site spanning the village of Snay and Phum Thmei in Preah Neat Preah district, Banteay Meanchey province;
• A Funan-era site near Phnom Da, in the Angkor Borei district of Takeo province;
• Prehistoric caves in Kampot province;
• The Sambor Prey Kuk temple site in Sambor district, Kompong Thom province;
• The Preah Khan temple of Kompong Svay in Preah Vihear province;
• Phuoun Moul in the Krek Memot rubber plantation in Kompong Cham province;
• The Roung Chea Neang site on Srai Mountain in Toap Khley village, Pralay Thma, Koh Kong province;
• Loang Spean on Teak Treang Mountain, Ratanak Mondul district, Battambang province.
