Petiton: We won't return 20 Cambodian cultural relics!
Hun Manet: This was decided by the previous Thai government to return.
Petiton: Now I am in charge, I will review the process,
Hun Manet: I hope you respect the facts, these are Cambodian cultural relics!
Petiton: The news of returning 20 ancient cultural relics is false.
Hun Manet: How can it change so quickly?
Petiton: Please produce the recording where you promised to return the cultural relics, otherwise I won't cooperate.
Hun Manet: You wait, there will be a recording!
The issue of Thailand returning ancient cultural relics to Cambodia has been initiated since the time of former Prime Minister Prayut, and since 2015, Thailand has returned 23 cultural relics to Cambodia. These relics were illegally transported to Thailand through Singapore in 2000, totaling 43 items, of which some were identified as belonging to Cambodia. In May 2024, former Prime Minister Srettha approved the proposal of the Ministry of Culture to transfer 20 confirmed Cambodian cultural relics. However, with Srettha's resignation, the matter went unanswered.
Prime Minister Petiton was forced to suspend his prime ministerial duties and was reassigned as the Minister of Culture in Thailand due to the "recording incident" in Cambodia. However, this coincided with the issue of returning 20 cultural relics to Cambodia. Therefore, Petiton's first move as the new official was to focus on the return of cultural relics. It was precisely the "recording incident" in Cambodia that led to Petiton's embarrassment, and now he could take revenge against Cambodia. Thus, the transfer of 20 Cambodian cultural relics was completely terminated.
As for when they will be returned, it depends on Cambodia's sincerity. Petiton directly said that if someone spreads rumors or false information, they would be held legally responsible, which is what Petiton really meant.
The recording incident was a turning point in Petiton's life. It meant that from then on, the pure and lovely Petiton began to gradually turn dark. It wasn't exactly a dark turn, but rather that she learned the truth about the world, which was cruel. Petiton had been familiar with the Hun family for over 30 years, but ended up almost falling into the hands of the Hun family. It is normal for her personality to change, and it has affected her worldview and outlook on life. Few people can accept such a fact, but reality is like that.
In the short term, Cambodia has very little chance of retrieving these 20 cultural relics. Petiton will definitely make a big deal out of this, and at least within the next five years, if Petiton continues to govern, it will be impossible to get them back. That is the reality. A single "recording incident" changed the friendly relationship between Thailand and Cambodia, and it will be very difficult to restore it later.
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1836763012453383/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.