Yangchun Villagers and Dutchman Collector Row Over Buddha Statue

An investigation concerning a dispute over the Buddha statue that was discovered earlier this year has recently been finished, according to a report by China Daily.

The 1,000-year-old Buddha statue, which was discovered to hold the remains of a mummified monk, is currently in the possession of Dutch collector Oscar van Overeem. The Dutch owner once told China Daily last May over the phone that he would return the artifact to China.

"Lawyers left the village after collecting evidence and finishing field investigation," said Lin Yongtuan, a local from Yangchun, Fujian Province, in an interview with China Daily.

Lin added that he and his fellow villagers still observe rituals that worship the monk despite its absence in the village.

"Although the Buddha statue was stolen in 1995, the annual ritual to worship him has never been interrupted," added Lin.

The investigation was a result of the Yangchun villagers' desire to get back what they believe is rightfully theirs. They have recently found a lawyer group willing to represent them in their case against van Overeem.

Evidence indicating that the stolen Yangchun statue and the 1,000-year-old Buddha statue are one and the same has also been presented by the Fujian Administration of Cultural Heritage.

For his part, van Overeem denied the allegations, stating that he has proof the statue did not come from Yangchun. He bought it for 40,000 Dutch guilders (roughly $20,500) in 1996 from a collecter who acquired the relic in Hong Kong.

Van Overeem did, however, reveal that the statue was indeed from China.

In May, van Overeem said that the statue will be housed in a temple near Yangchun. Villagers said that there's a change of attitude from the Dutch collector, who has reportedly asked for $20 billion to "compensate for the research and preservation for the Buddha statue for 20 years."