The fight against looting

While the social, economic and political changes begun in the late '80s brought new possibilities for sustainable development and security across the country, the situation simultaneously catalyzed great destruction and loss; cultural, natural and human resources have all suffered deeply. Faced with the open market, and before an unknown future, many in positions of power sought to consolidate personal wealth. In Siem Reap, the illegal art traffic, as well as logging, proved increasingly lucrative.

A fronton badly looted

Vandalism has multiplied at a phenomenal rate. Once a given temple site has been robbed of its moveable objects, vandals remove the temple lintels and pediments weighing several tons, and chisel stone reliefs off of temple walls. Chain saws are used to detach portions of immoveable objects. Employing local populations to carry out the actual thefts, heavily armed intermediaries transport objects, often in tanks or armored personnel carriers, for sale across the Thai border. Encouraged by an insatiable market for ancient objects, clandestine excavations have progressively grown in number, causing ever-greater damage to irreplaceable archaeological sites. In search of gold deposits, vandals unearth temple and stupa foundations, contributing to structural collapse.

Faced with rampant looting in the Angkor Park, the Angkor Conservation Office resorted to removing objects for safekeeping in the compound grounds. Surrounded by barbed wire, its outer walls lined with sandbags, and under twenty-four hour armed guard, the Conservation was still unable to prevent theft. Between 1992 and 1993 the compound was thrice attacked by armed forces. Numerous invaluable pieces were lost. In response to this seemingly uncontrollable violence, the government removed over one hundred remaining pieces to Phnom Penh. With the aid of UNESCO, security measures were reinforced in and around the Conservation compound.