World

Redressing Historical Wrongs: Australia Sends Back Artifacts To Cambodia

The National Gallery of Australia announced on Thursday that it will return three sculptures to Cambodia after an examination determined that they were likely illegally exported from the country.

The bronze sculptures were purchased for $1.5 million in 2011 by British art dealer Douglas Latchford, who was later convincingly implicated in the illegal trade of antiquities, according to the gallery.

Latchford died a year after being charged with trafficking in stolen and looted Cambodian artifacts in 2020. According to the gallery, charges have also been made posthumously connected to works of art he sold.

Susan Templeman, Australia’s special ambassador for the arts, stated at a handover ceremony that returning the sculptures to Cambodia was an opportunity to right a historical wrong.

She praised Cambodia’s administration for its cooperative spirit and graciousness in dealing with the situation.

The transfer was regarded as a historic occasion and an important step towards rectifying past injustices, reinforcing the value of cultural properties, and acknowledging the importance of preserving and protecting cultural heritage by Cambodia’s ambassador to Australia, Chanborey Cheunboran.

The sculptures, which include Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Padmapani, Bodhisattva Vajrapani, and Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Padmapani, will be on exhibit in Australia for up to three years while the Cambodian government works on a new home for them in Phnom Penh.

Museums around the world are returning stolen antiquities to right the wrongs done to many countries during colonial rule.

Last month, Amsterdam’s legendary Rijksmuseum promised to return hundreds of stolen Indonesian and Sri Lankan artifacts, while late last year, London’s Horniman Museum promised to return some of its treasures to Nigeria more than 100 years after they were stolen by British forces.

Also read: Third Drug Trafficking Prisoner Executed In Singapore In Less Than A Week

Spriha Rai

Recent Posts

PM Modi Distributes Over 51,000 Appointment Letters In 15th Rozgar Mela

PM Modi distributed 51,236 appointment letters to newly-recruited candidates in central government departments and organisations…

2 hours ago

Indian Embassy In Berlin Holds Memorial For Pahalgam Terror Victims

The Indian Embassy in Berlin organised a solemn memorial service to honour the victims of…

3 hours ago

Joe Jonas Reflects On Disconnecting From Technology And Reliving Childhood

Pop star Joe Jonas recently performed his latest single, Heart by Heart, to a phone-free…

3 hours ago

Chennai Super Kings’ Struggles Continue As Sunrisers Hyderabad Secure Crucial Win

CSK captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has openly acknowledged the team's ongoing struggles in the 2025…

3 hours ago

Supreme Court Confirms Disruption In Digital Services Due To National Government Cloud Outage

The Supreme Court announced on Saturday that a disruption in the National Government Cloud (NGC)…

3 hours ago

India Responds To Ceasefire Violations After Pahalgam Terror Attack

Following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April, Pakistan has escalated tensions by…

3 hours ago