In the morning of March 28, a ceremony was held at the Council of Ministers to celebrate the homecoming of a 10th century statue of the Torso of Rama from Prasat Chen, Koh Ker, which had been in the collection of the Denver Art Museum for 30 years. The Torso of Rama was returned by the Denver Art Museum after experts confirmed that the object had in fact been looted from its original home.

In his remarks, Denver Art Museum director Dr. Christoph Heinrich called the Torso of Rama an “Ambassador of Cambodia’s distinguished tradition and culture” that “brought delight and wonder to millions of our visitors of our museum.”
“We are happy today to see this honorable Ambassador returning back home to be united with other important pieces from the temple of Koh Ker,” said Dr. Heinrich. The Torso of Rama is the seventh object from Koh Ker to be returned from U.S. collections.

The homecoming event was led by H.E. Yim Nolson, Vice-Chairman of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of Cambodia, and was attended by Ambassador Heidt, UNESCO Representative in Cambodia Anne Lemaistre, and many distinguished guests from the diplomatic and cultural community.