The Cambodian government has offered to finance the return of 20 Khmer artefacts from Thailand after Thai Culture Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced on July 4, 2025, that budget limitations and escalating border tensions had stalled the scheduled repatriation.
In a formal letter dated July 6 and addressed to Minister Paetongtarn, Cambodia’s Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, Phoeurng Sackona, emphasized the importance of adhering to the original agreement. She confirmed that Cambodia would assume the cost of transporting the artefacts, as previously arranged under a bilateral accord signed in April.
The agreement had included plans for an official handover ceremony in Bangkok this July, with the artefacts expected to be moved to Cambodia in August. Phoeurng urged Thai authorities to avoid additional delays and proceed as scheduled.
The 20 items in question—primarily small sculptures—are part of a collection of 43 Khmer antiquities that were illicitly taken out of Cambodia. The Thai Fine Arts Department has authenticated their Cambodian origin. Twenty-three artefacts were previously returned in two batches, in 2008 and 2015.
Minister Paetongtarn, in her first statement as Culture Minister, noted that her ministry would need to revisit the matter, potentially submitting a new budget proposal to the Thai Cabinet before further action can be taken.
The artefacts are viewed as culturally significant by both nations and their repatriation has been the subject of ongoing cooperation and negotiation between the two governments.
