The envoy from the Southeast Asian nation praised the return of the "souls of our culture," but he also noted that more work was still needed to address a more significant issue.
According to Cambodia's ambassador to the United States, the return of 30 artefacts by American law enforcement to Cambodia signifies the restoration of the "souls of our culture."
Ambassador Keo Chhea spoke during a ceremony when many works of art were on display, including a sculpture from the 10th century called "Skanda on a Peacock."
He discussed the implications of the return of 30 artefacts for the Southeast Asian nation.
Chhea likened it to our culture's souls coming home to our people. "We sincerely appreciate it,"
Chhea praised the United States and Cambodia for working together to permit the return of the artefacts, but he also pointed out that they were still engaged in a "global crisis."
He stated, "We need to commit and to maintain our effort in order to stop additional theft and the use of tools by looters, which occasionally results in monuments having pieces chopped off.
According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, certain artworks were too large to be hauled to the event,
including a sculpture from the 10th century that weighs more than 3 tonnes and depicts the Hindu elephant god Ganesha.
The statues were looted during a protracted period of civil war and turmoil in Cambodia, which was ruled by the brutal Khmer Rouge dictatorship in the 1970s.
Williams claims that the statues were obtained through organised looting networks, including those associated with the Khmer Rouge, and
were subsequently sold to Western dealers, collectors, and institutions by renowned antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford.
The prosecutor emphasised that Latchford passed away before he could be sent to the US to face charges of conspiracy to
commit wire fraud and other offences in federal court in Manhattan. In the end, the indictment was dropped as a result of his passing.
Many of the bronze and sandstone sculptures and artefacts, according to Williams, were left behind by their owners after being reported stolen to American authorities.
Others had their claims made in writing through legal processes. They encompassed the period from the Bronze Age to the 12th century.
"We commend individuals and institutions that choose to do the right thing and voluntarily return the antiques to their
motherland after learning about the history of the artefacts in their hands," Williams said. We want to encourage anyone
who believes they may be holding illegally obtained Cambodian or other artefacts to come forward.