SV: sundry

Dear Justin and Eisel,

I am horrified. I was not aware of the American involvement with the Khmer
Rouge. Stealing images, sculptures etc. is an international and lucrative
business. I don't know much about pilfering valuable ms.s from Buddhist
monastic libraries, but it seems to be organised by dealers too. Here in
Copenhagen of all places I once found in a well-known shop selling "exotica"
a beatifull copy of the Mahaaniddesa dated 1824, a fascicle of the Jataka at
least 250 years old and a lot more. I later found out that they had been
stolen from Sinhalese monastic libraries by greedy monks with the assistance
of antique dealers.

Best
Ole



I was at the Norton Simon last week. They have a few pieces including the
Harihara and several other significant pieces.
It is just not a large collection compared to the South Asian collection
there which is massive. I guess it matters what you count as a big
collection. Some beautiful and sacred pieces.
Too bad one can't offer flowers, oil, and incense in the museum.

The Americans, the French, the British, the Germans, the Japanese should
return everything. It wouldn't solve much I imagine. Chinese, Malaysian and
Thai business people would steal it again:) I recently spoke (April 2005) at
the seminar for the King of Siam Art Exhibition which is the largest
traveling exhibition of Siamese Art in history. Very nice show. It took 8
years to arrange (I was not part of this
phase) because the Ministry of Fine Arts in Thailand wanted to keep most
pieces in the basement of the museum. Most are never seen and are not
returned to temples either. There is internal "stealing" as well. Sadly an
old story.

I wrote a 250 page thesis when I was 19 years old on the American
involvement with the Khmer Rouge and the U.S. bombing which was one of the
main contributing factors to their ability to rise to power and rule.
Americans acting badly is an old story. Stealing images is the least of the
problem. The sad thing is that every country that develops power needs or
think it needs to defend that power and thus in that defense there is
offense and everyone loses. An old story. I have grown less angry in my old
age or perhaps just more depressed:)

Best:)
justin