At 1:30 p.m. on July 4, at the Ministry of Culture, Ms. Paethongtarn Shinawatra, Prime Minister and Minister of Culture, held a meeting to discuss with the ministry’s executives. At the beginning of the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that she would like to clarify the news online that there was an interpretation of returning 20 antiques to Cambodia. She confirmed that this was not true. This was an issue during the government of General Prayut Chan-o-cha, in which 23 antiques were returned in 2015 after verification that they were Cambodian. Out of 43 antiques smuggled from Singapore since 1970, on May 21, 2024, the Cabinet resolution by the government of Mr. Settha Thavisin agreed to return 20 antiques to Cambodia as proposed by the Ministry of Culture after the Fine Arts Department and a team of experts confirmed that the antiques originated in Cambodia. Currently, the Fine Arts Department is in the budget allocation process, but it has been reported that the current budget is insufficient and is not urgent, so it cannot request a budget. In any case, this matter must be reviewed again. It may have to be sent to To request a budget from the ministry and report to the Cabinet for acknowledgement as the next step in finding an agency to find a budget for the return. But importantly, with the current situation between Thailand and Cambodia, the Ministry of Culture has an opinion to review the matter as appropriate. In summary, please review it first. As for the budget, we'll discuss it later. The remaining part has not yet been returned.

Ms. Paethongtarn continued that regarding the ancient sites in the Prasat Ta Muen group (Prasat Ta Muen Thom, Prasat Ta Muen Tod, Prasat Ta Kwai, and the Mombey area), she confirmed that they are ancient sites under the sovereignty of Thailand, which have been announced as ancient sites registered under the Ancient Monuments Act B.E. 2505. As for other regions, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reported that it will expedite the process of preserving them, which are also Thai territories and sovereignty. 

“Since the media is here, it is a good opportunity to clarify the news releases of various incitements that have caused negative impacts. I have to take action to report the person who released the news. Normally, comments that are just criticisms are normal. I am the prime minister, a minister, and a public figure. It is normal. There is no problem with that. However, the release of news, such as the story that I sent the items, which the ministry already knows is not true. Therefore, legal action must be taken against this matter,” said Ms. Paethongtarn.