• Society

Cambodia and US Extend Culture Pact with Temple Aid

• By Teng Yalirozy
• August 30, 2023 3:04 PM

PHNOM PENH – Cambodia and the US have extended their cultural property agreement for another five years with the US announcing an additional $450,000 fund to conserve Phnom Bakheng Temple, the largest fund for cultural preservation in the East Asia Pacific.

US Ambassador Patrick Murphy and Culture Minister Phoeurng Sackona signed the 5th Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation on Aug. 30 at the National Museum in Phnom Penh.

The MoU concerns “the Imposition of Import Restrictions on Categories of Archaeological and Ethnological Materials of Cambodia,” which will reduce Cambodian archaeological material pillaging and promote cultural, educational and scientific exchanges.

The first MoU was signed in 2003 between the late Princess Norodom Buppha Devi, former culture minister, and US Ambassador Charles A. Ray. The US-Cambodia Cultural Property Agreement has been extended and amended five times.

Sackona said the US and Cambodia have been working on cultural cooperation for 20 years, having returned about 100 looted artifacts and increased the ability of Cambodians to protect their cultural heritage.

“For decades, Cambodia’s cultural artifacts have been looted and acquired by private collectors and museums around the world, especially in the US, Europe, Australia and even in Asia,” she said.

Hundreds of ancient Khmer objects, sculptures, elements of architecture and artifacts in ceramic and bronze had been and were being sold illegally.

“These cultural items have been bought directly at auctions or in the case of museums, obtained as gifts from collectors,” Sackona said.

Ambassador Murphy said Cambodia was the only country in Southeast Asia with the MoU, epitomizing cultural cooperation for other Indo-Pacific countries.

He said the MoU further reduced illicit trafficking of Cambodia’s ancient archaeological material. Six million dollars had been provided over past decades to Cambodia to protect and restore the country’s cultural heritage.

“This MoU represents the very best people-to-people tie between the Americans and Cambodian people,” he said. “Since the first MoU was signed, we continue to strengthen our bilateral and cultural relationships.”

 The ambassador said the new MoU restricted the import of archaeological material dating from 2,500BCE to 1750CE.

Also included were glass, bone, stone, metal, ceramics, wood, architectural elements, manuscripts, and religious objects from the 15th to 19th centuries.

He highlighted the success of the MoU, including training with the FBI and other agencies to prevent illicit artifact trafficking, a $360,000 grant for Preah Vihear's restoration, workshops for community education at Sambor Prei Kuk, and the return of antiquities from the US to Cambodia.

Phnom Bakheng Temple conservation

During the signing ceremony, Ambassador Murphy announced the $450,000 US Department of State-Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation grant to continue the conservation of the 10th Phnom Bakheng temple, a popular sunset sightseeing site in Siem Reap province.

“This is the largest Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation grant awarded this year in the East Asia Pacific region,” he said.

“I am so delighted to continue this grant. It’s a source of great pride and I look forward to being together again with the minister at Phnom Bakheng.”

The US has provided grants for the Phnom Bakheng temple in seven phases. The first phase was in 2008 with $979,000, the second phase in 2011 received $450,000, and $450,00 was granted for the third phase in 2013.

The US awarded $450,000, $350,000 and $300,000 for the fourth, fifth and sixth phases respectively.

“I have no doubt we will continue to make momentous gains in restoring and preserving the Kingdom’s rich cultural heritage for generations to come,” the ambassador said.

Since 2001, the US has provided almost $6 million to preserve Cambodia’s culture, including grants to restore Preah Vihear temple, support the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum, create digital inventories of objects at provincial museums, and educate the public on cultural heritage protection.