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Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums B.E. 2504 (1961)

Translation

 

ACT ON ANCIENT MONUMENTS, ANTIQUES, OBJECTS OF ART AND NATIONAL MUSEUMS, B.E. 2504 (1961)1

                                                        _______________

 

                                           BHUMIBOL ADULYADEJ, REX.

                                   Given on the 2nd Day of August B.E. 2504,

                                     Being the 16th Year of the Present Reign.

 

                    His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is graciously pleased to 

proclaim that:

                    Whereas it is expedient to revise the law on ancient monuments, 

antiques, objects of art and national museums;

                    Be it, therefore, enacted by the King, by and with the advice and 

consent of the Constituent Assembly acting as the National Assembly, as follows:

                    Section 1.  This Act is called the "Act on Ancient Monuments, 

Antiques, Objects of Art and National Museums, B.E. 2504."

                    Section 2.  This Act shall come into force after the expiration of 

thirty days from the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.2

                    Section 3.  The following shall be repealed:

 

_________________________

1

 As last amended by the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Objects of Art

and National Museums (No. 2), B.E. 2535 (1992)(published in the Government 

Gazette Vol. 109, Part 38, dated 5th April B.E. 2535 (1992))

2

 Published in the Government Gazette Vol. 78, Part 66, dated 29th August B.E.

2504 (1961)

 

 

                    (1)          The Act on Ancient Monuments, Objects of Art, Antiques 

and National Museums, B.E. 2477; and

                    (2)          The Act on Ancient Monuments, Objects of Art, Antiques 

and National Museums (No. 2), B.E. 2486.

                    All other laws, by-laws and regulations insofar as they deal with 

matters provided herein or are contrary hereto or inconsistent herewith shall be 

replaced by this Act.

                    Section 4.  In this  Act:

                    "ancient monument"3  means an immovable property which, by its 

age or architectural characteristics or historical evidence, is useful in the field of 

art, history or archaeology and shall include places which are archaeological sites, 

historic sites and historic parks;

                    "antique" means an archaic movable property, whether produced 

by man or by nature, or being any part of ancient monument or of human skeleton 

or animal carcass which, by its age or characteristics of production or historical 

evidence, is useful in the field of art, history or archaeology;

                    "objects of art"4 means a thing skillfully produced by craftmanship 

which is high valuable in the field of art;

                    "duplicate antique"5 means a thing which is a duplicate of an 

antique or a particular part of an antique registered under this Act or which is in 

the possession of the Department of Fine Arts;

 

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3

 As amended by section 3 of the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques, Object 

of Art and National Museums (No. 2), B.E. 2535 (1992)

4

 As amended by section 4, ibid.

5

 As added by section 5, ibid.

 

 

                    "duplicate object of art"6 means a thing which is a duplicate of 

object of art or a particular part of object of art registered under this Act or which 

is in the possession of the Department of Fine Arts;

                    "duplicate"7 means imitate, replicate  or reproduce by any means in 

order to be like or similar to the original object regardless  of its original size, 

features or material; 

                    "competent official"  means the person appointed by the Minister 

for the execution of this Act; 

                    "Director-General"  means the Director-General of the Department 

of Fine Arts;

                    "Minister"  means the Minister having charge and control of the 

execution of this Act.

                    Section 5.8 The Director-General may, in regard to the issuance of 

permit or licence by him under this Act, entrust  a government official of the 

Department of Fine Arts in a position not lower than a Director or its equivalent 

to act on his behalf or the Changwat Governor of any locality to act on his behalf 

in such locality.  Such entrustment shall be published in the Government Gazette.

                    After the publication of entrustment of authority to the Changwat

Governor of any locality according to paragraph one, the application for permit or 

licence shall be filed with the Changwat Governor of such locality.

 

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6

 Ibid.

7

 Ibid.

8

 As amended by section 6, ibid.

 

 

                    Section 6.9 The Minister of Education shall have charge and 

control of the execution of this Act, and shall have the power to appoint 

competent officials, issue Ministerial Regulations prescribing fees not exceeding 

the rates provided in the schedules hereto attached, granting exemption from fees, 

and prescribing other activities for the execution of this Act.

                    Such Ministerial Regulations shall come into force upon their 

publication in the Government Gazette.

 

                                                        CHAPTER I

                                                       Ancient Monuments

                                                         _______________

 

                    Section 7.  The Director-General shall, for the purpose of keeping,  

maintaining  and  controlling  ancient monuments under this Act, have the power 

to cause, by means of notification in the Government Gazette, any ancient 

monument as he thinks fit to be registered, and to determine such area of land as 

he thinks fit to be its compound; which area shall also be considered as ancient 

monument.  Cancellation and modification of the same may likewise be made.

                    If the ancient monument to be registered under the foregoing 

paragraph is owned or lawfully possessed by any person, the Director-General 

shall notify in writing the owner or possessor thereof.  The owner or possessor 

shall,  if not satisfied therewith, be entitled within thirty days from the date of  his 

 

_________________________

9

 Ibid.

 

 

 

or her being aware of the Director-General's notification to apply for an order of 

the Court requiring the Director-General to stop registration and/or determination 

of such area of land as ancient monuments, as the case may be.  If the owner or 

possessor fails to apply for the order of the Court or the Court gives, when the 

case is final, the order rejecting the application, the Director-General shall 

proceed with the registration.

                    Section 7 bis.10 No person shall construct any building according 

to the law on the control of building construction within the compound of ancient 

monument registered by the Director-General except permit has been obtained 

from the Director-General.

                    In the case where the building being constructed without permit, 

the Director-General shall have the power to stop the construction and to 

demolish the building or a part of the building within sixty days from the date of 

the receipt of the order.

                    Any person who refuses to stop the construction or to demolish the 

building or a  part of building according to  order  of the Director-General shall 

be liable to the offence of refusing the order of official.  The Director-General 

shall demolish the building or a part of that building and the owner, the occupier 

or the constructor shall have no right to claim damages or proceed with the case 

whatsoever against the persons executing that demolition.

 

_________________________

10

 As added by clause 1 of the Announcement of the National Executive Council 

No. 308, dated 13th December B.E. 2515 (1972)

 

  

                    If the owner does not remove the demolished materials from the 

ancient monument's compound within fifteen days from the date of the 

completion of the demolition, the Director-General shall sell such materials by 

auction.  Proceeds of sale after deduction of demolition and sales expenses shall 

return to the owner of such materials.

                    Section 8. All ancient monuments listed and published in the 

Government Gazette by the Director-General under the law on ancient 

monuments, objects of art, antiques and national museums before the day of the 

coming into force of this Act shall also be taken as registered ancient monuments 

under this Act.

                    Section 9. In case the registered ancient monument owned and 

lawfully possessed by any person is deteriorating, dilapidating or being damaged 

by any means whatsoever, the owner or possessor thereof shall inform the 

Director-General of the deterioration, dilapidation or damage within thirty days 

from the date of his or her being aware of its occurence.

                    Section 9 bis.11  The ancient monument under section 9 which 

display to the public for collecting admission fee or any other fees as regular 

business or yield any benefits whatsoever from such ancient monument, the 

owner or possessor thereof shall bear the expense of repair, in total or in part, as 

prescribed by the Director-General.

                    In determining the expense of repair under paragraph one, the 

Director-General  shall  appoint a  committee of not less than three persons and 

the owner or possessor shall also be a member.

 

_________________________

11

 As added by section 7 of the Act on Ancient Monuments, Antiques,

Objects of Art and National Museums (No. 2), B.E. 2535 (1992)

 

 

                    Section 10.12 No person shall repair, modify, alter, demolish, add 

to, destroy, remove any ancient monument or its parts or excavate for anything or 

construct any building within the compound  of  ancient  monument, except  by 

order of the Director-General, or permit has been obtained from the Director-

General.  If the permit contains any conditions, they shall be complied with.

                    Section 10 bis.13  The competent official shall have the power to 

enter any ancient monument for the purpose of inspection as to whether there has 

been any repair, modification, alteration, demolition, addition, destruction, 

removal of ancient monument or its parts or any excavation or construction of 

building within the compound of ancient monument.  The competent official 

shall have the power, for this purpose, to seize or attach any object which is 

reasonably suspected of excavation within the compound of ancient monument.

                    The inspection, seizure or attachment under paragraph one shall be 

made between sunrise and sunset.  After an inspection, seizure or attachment has 

taken place in the Bangkok Metropolitan area, a report shall be made to the 

Director-General and in other Changwats to the Changwat Governors and the 

Director-General.

                    Section 11.  The Director-General shall have the power in regard to 

any registered ancient monument even owned or lawfully possessed, to order the 

competent official or any person to make a repair or to do by any means 

whatsoever for restoration or preservation of its original condition; provided that 

its owner or possessor has first to be notified thereof.

 

_________________________

12

 As amended by section 8, ibid.

13

 As amended by section 9, ibid.

 

 

 

Section 12.  In case of transfer of the registered ancient 

monument, the transferor shall give the Director-General within thirty days from 

the date of transfer a written information specifying the transferee's name and 

residence as well as the date of transfer.

                    The person who acquires ownership of a registered ancient 

monument by inheritance or by will shall inform the Director-General of such 

acquisition within sixty days from the date of  the acquisition.  In case there are 

many persons acquiring ownership of the same ancient monument and one of the 

co-owners entrusted to give information of the acquisition of ownership has 

given the information within the said period, it shall be taken that all co-owners 

have given such information.

                    Section 13.14  When it is deemed appropriate for preserving the 

condition, safety, cleanliness and tidiness of the registered ancient monument, the 

Minister shall have the power to issue a Ministerial Regulation on conducts of 

visitors during their visit; and may fix admission fee or any other fees.

                    The organizing of visits to ancient monument owned or lawfully 

possessed by any individual who charge admission fee or any other fees shall be 

notified in writing prior to the Director-General and shall be complied with the 

rules, procedure and conditions notified by the Director-General in the 

Government Gazette.

 

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14

 As amended by section 10, ibid.

 

                    Section 13 bis.15  When it is deemed appropriate for promoting 

education and publicizing culture and arts, the Director-General shall have the 

power to give a written permit to an individual to carry out any activity that gain 

benefit from the compound of registered ancient monument not owned or 

lawfully possessed by any individual.  The person receiving the permit shall bear 

all expenses incurred in that activity and shall pay ownership fees, remittances, 

and other fees to the Department of Fine Arts.  The payment received shall 

benefit the Archaeological Fund in accordance with rules notified by the 

Director-General in the Government Gazette.

 

                                                   CHAPTER 2

                                           Antiques and Objects of Art

                                                   _______________

                     

                    Section 14.16  The Director-General shall have the power, if he 

deems that any antique or object of art not being in the possession of the 

Department of Fine Arts is useful or of special value in the field of art, history 

or archaeology, to cause, by means of notification in the Government Gazette, 

such antique or object of art to be registered.

                    The Director-General shall have the power, if he deems that any 

antique whether it is registered or not, or any registered object of art should be 

conserved as a national property, to cause, by means of notification in the 

Government Gazette, such antique or object of art not to be traded.  If he deems 

 

_________________________

15

 As added by section 11, ibid.

16

 As amended by section 12, ibid.

 

 

  

that they should become a national property, the Director-General shall have the 

power to purchase such antique or object of art.

                    Section 14 bis.17  When it is deemed appropriate for 

preservation and registration of antiques or objects of art dating from Ayudhya 

and earlier periods, the Director-General shall have the power to cause, by means 

of notification in the Government Gazette, any locality to be an area of survey for 

a particular antique or object of art.  In such cases, the owner or possessor shall 

inform the numbers, appearances and places at which such antiques or objects of 

art are stored to the Director-General in accordance with the rules, procedure and 

conditions notified by the Director-General.

                    When a notification under paragraph one has been made, the 

Director-General or a person entrusted by him or her shall have the power to enter 

a dwelling place of an owner or possessor or a place at which antiques or objects 

of art are stored between sunrise and sunset or during working hours for the 

benefit of registration.  In the case where it is deemed that any antique or object 

of art is useful or of special value in the field of art, history or archaeology, the 

Director-General shall have the power under section 14.

                    Section 15.  No person shall repair, modify or alter any registered 

antique or object of art, unless permit has been obtained from the Director-

General.  If the permit contains any conditions, they shall be complied with.

 

_________________________

17

 As added by section 13, ibid.

 

 

                    Section 16.18  In case the registered antique or object of art is 

deteriorating, dilapidating or being damaged or lost or removed from the place at 

which it is stored, the possessor of such antique or object of art shall inform the 

Director-General of the deterioration, dilapidation, damage, lose or removal 

within thirty days from the date of his or her being aware of its occurence.

                    Section 17.  In case of tranfer of the registered antique or object of 

art, the transferor shall give the Director-General within thirty days from the date 

of transfer a written information specifying the transferee's name and residence as 

well as the date of tranfer.

                    The person who acquires ownership of a registered antique or 

object of art by inheritance or by will shall inform the Director-General of such 

acquisition within sixty days from the date of the acquisition.  In case there are 

many  persons acquiring ownership  of  the  same  antique  or  object  of  art  and  

one of the co-owners entrusted  to  give  information  of  the acquisition of 

ownership has given the information within the said period, it shall be taken that 

all co-owners have given such information.

                    Section 18.19  Antiques or  objects of art which are the State  

property and under the custody and care of the Department of Fine Arts are 

inalienable, except by virtue of law.  However, if the number of certain similar 

antiques or objects of art is in excess of need, the Director-General may permit to 

transfer them by means of sale or exchange for the benefit of national museums 

or give them to the excavators as rewards or for a consideration of their service in 

 

_________________________

18

 As amended by section 14, ibid.

19

 As amended by section 15, ibid.

 

 

compliance with rules notified by the Director-General in the Government 

Gazette.

                    Section 18 bis.20          Antiques or objects of art which are under the 

possession of the Department of Fine Arts or are registered and are useful or of 

special value in the field of art, history or archaeology, the Minister shall have the 

power to cause, by means of notification in the Government Gazette, such 

antiques or objects of art to control the duplication.

                    When a notification under paragraph one has been made, the 

productions, trade or possession in a place of business of a duplicate antique or 

duplicate object of art under duplication control thereof shall be complied with 

the rules, procedure and conditions notified by the Director-General in the 

Government Gazette.  The person who wishes to produce a duplicate antique or 

duplicate object of art under such duplication control shall inform a list of items 

to the Director-General and show a sign of duplication on each produced item.

                    After being informed according to paragraph two, the Director-

General shall notify lists of producers and duplicate antiques  and duplicate 

objects of art under duplication control to the Director-General of the Customs 

Department for the benefit of export or take out of the Kingdom.

                    Section 19.21  Any person wishing to engage in the business of 

antiques and objects of art not to be traded under section 14 paragraph two must 

obtain a licence from the Director-General.

                    

_________________________

20

 As added by section 16, ibid.

21

 As amended by section 17, ibid.

 

The application for a licence and the grant thereof shall be in 

accordance with the rules, procedure and conditions prescribed in the Ministerial 

Regulation.

                    In case the Director-General grants the application, he shall notify 

the list of the licensees in the Government Gazette.

                    In case the Director-General refuses to grant the application, the 

applicant is entitled to lodge an appeal in writing with the Minister within thirty 

days from the date of his or her being aware of such order.

                    The decision of the Minister shall be final.

                    Section 19 bis.22 Any person wishing to display antiques and 

objects of art to public for collecting admission fee or any other fees shall submit 

prior notification in writing to the Director-General and shall comply with the 

rules, procedure and conditions notified by the Director-General in the 

Government Gazette.

                    Section 19 ter.23  The licence issued under section 19 shall be 

valid until 31st December of the year of its issuance.  If the licensee wishes to  

apply for a renewal of his or her licence, he or she shall file an application to the 

Director-General before the expiration thereof.  Having filed the application, he 

or she may carry on his or her business until such time when the Director-General  

makes an order refusing the application.

 

_________________________

22

 As amended by section 18, ibid.

23

 As added by section 19, ibid.

 

 

 

                    The application for a renewal of licence and the grant thereof shall 

be in accordance with the rules, procedure and conditions prescribed in the 

Ministerial Regulation.                      

                    In case the Director-General grants the application, he shall notify 

the list of the licensees in the Government Gazette.

                    In case the Director-General refuses to grant the application, the 

applicant is entitled to lodge an appeal in writing with the Minister within thirty 

days from the date of his or her being aware of such order.

                    The decision of the Minister shall be final.

                    If there is an appeal for a renewal of the licence under paragraph 

three before the decision is made by the Minister, the Minister may give the 

permission that the appellant may carry on his or her business if he or she so 

requests.

                    Section 20.24  The licensee under section 19 shall produce the 

licence in the conspicuouse place of his or her business and he or she shall make 

a list of the antiques or objects of art or duplicate antiques or duplicate objects of 

art which are in his or her possession and keep such list within such place in 

compliance with rules notified by the Director-General in the Government 

Gazette.

                    Section 21.25  The competent official shall have the power to enter 

any place of production, business, exhibition or storage of antiques or objects of 

art or duplicate antiques or duplicate objects of art between sunrise  and sunset  or 

 

_________________________

24

 As amended by section 20, ibid.

25

 Ibid.

 

 

  

during working hours for the purpose of inspection as to whether the licensee has 

complied with this Act or whether the antiques or objects of art or duplicate 

antiques or duplicate objects of art unlawfully acquired or whether there are 

duplicate antiques or duplicate of objects of art  not  being complied  with  

notification  prescribed by the Director-General under section 18 bis in such 

places.  In the case where there is a reasonable cause to suspect that the licensee 

has not complied with this Act or there are the antiques or objects of art or 

duplicate antiques or duplicate objects of art unlawfully acquired or duplicate 

antiques or duplicate objects of art not complied with notification prescribed by 

the Director-General under section 18 bis, the competent official shall have the 

power to seize or attach any antiques or objects of art or duplicate antiques or 

duplicate objects of art for the benefit of legal prosecution.

                    Section 21 bis.26  In the performance of duties, the Director-

General or a person entrusted by him or her or the competent official, as the case 

may be, shall produce his or her identity card to the owner, the possessor, the 

licensee or the person concerned at the places being inspected under section 14 

bis or section 21 and such person concerned shall provide him with reasonable 

facilities.

                    The identity card of the competent official shall be in the form 

prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation.

                    Section 21 ter.27  In the performance of duties, the Director-

General or a person entrusted by him or her or the competent official shall be an 

official under the Penal Code.

 

_________________________

26

 As added by section 21, ibid.

27

 Ibid.

 

 

 

                    Section 22.28  No person shall export or take out of the Kingdom 

any antique or object of art irrespective of whether it is registered or not, unless a 

licence has been obtained from the Director-General.

                    The application for a licence and the grant thereof shall be in 

accordance with the rules, procedure and conditions prescribed in the Ministerial 

Regulation.

                    The  provisions  of  paragraph  one  shall  not  apply to objects of 

art which are not more than five years old and have not been registered and the 

bringing of antiques or objects of art in transit.

                    Section 23.  Any person being desirous of temporarily dispatching  

antiques or  objects of art out of the  Kingdom  shall  apply to the Director-

General for a licence.  In case the Director-General gives the order refusing to 

grant the application, the applicant is  entitled to  lodge an  appeal  against  the 

Director-General's refusal with the Minister within thirty days from the date of 

his or her being aware of such order.  The decision of the Minister shall be final.

                    In case the Director-General deems appropriate or the Minister 

decides that a licence be issued to the applicant for temporarily dispatching 

antiques or objects of art out of the Kingdom and the applicant has agreed to 

comply with the conditions, methods and requirements on deposit of security 

money and/or payment of penalties as prescribed in the Ministerial Regulation 

relating thereto, the Director-General shall accordingly issue a licence to the 

applicant.

 

_________________________

28

 As amended by section 22, ibid.    

 

  

                    Section 23 bis.29          In the case where it is necessary to export or 

take out of the Kingdom any antiques or objects of art or parts of them which are 

in the possession of the Department of Fine Arts for the purposes of education, 

analysis, research, repair or assembly, the Director-General shall have the power 

to export or take out temporarily of the Kingdom such antiques or objects of art 

or parts of antiques or objects of art.   In case the parts of  such antiques or 

objects of art have to be processed or destroyed in regard to the process of 

analysis or research, the Director-General may export or take such parts out of the 

Kingdom without having to bring them back.

                    Section 24.30  Antiques or objects of art buried in, concealed or 

abandoned within the Kingdom or the Exclusive Economic Zone under such 

circumstances that no one could claim to be their owners shall, whether the place 

of burial, concealment, or abandonment be owned or possessed by any person, 

become the State property.  The finder of such antiques or objects of art shall 

deliver the same to the competent official or the administrative or police official 

under the Criminal Procedure Code and is entitled to not more than a reward of 

one-third of the value of such property.

                    The Director-General shall appoint a committee of not less than 

three members to dertermine the value of property according to paragraph one.  

The finder is entitled to appeal against the decision of the said committee to the 

Director-General within fifteen days from the date of his or her being aware of 

the decision.  The decision of the Director-General shall be final.

 

_________________________

29

 As added by section 23, ibid.

30

 As amended by section 24, ibid.

 

                     Section 24 bis.31  In the case where the licence issued under this 

Act is lost or materially destroyed, the licensee shall file an application for a 

substitute for the licence to the Director-General within fifteen days from the date 

of his or her being aware of the loss or destruction.

                    The application for a substitute of the licence and the issuance 

thereof shall be in accordance with the rules, procedure and conditions prescribed 

in the Ministerial Regulation.

 

                                                   CHAPTER 3

                                                    National Museums

                                                    _______________                      

 

                    Section 25.  There shall be national museums for keeping antiques 

or objects of art which are the State property.

                    Any site on which a national museum is to be established or any 

place required to be a national museum as well as the cancellation of the status of 

national museum shall be published by the Minister in the Government Gazette.

                    National Museums existing on the day of the coming into force of 

this Act shall be national museums under this Act.

                    Section 26.32  Antiques and objects of art which are the State 

property  under the custody of  the  Department of Fine Arts shall not be kept in 

other place than in the national museums.  But in  case  it  is  unable or unsuitable 

 

_________________________

31

 As added by section 25, ibid.

32

 As amended by section 26, ibid.

 

 

  

to keep them in the national museums, they may be, subject to the permission of 

the Director-General, kept in other museums, temples, or places belonging to the 

government.

                    The provisions of paragraph one shall not apply to the case of 

temporarily displaying antiques or objects of art at any place by permission of the 

Director-General, or to the case of taking antiques or objects of art out of the 

national museums for repair by order of the Director-General.

                    In case of plurality of similar pieces of antiques and objects of art, 

the Director-General may allow any Ministry, Sub-Ministry or Department to 

keep some pieces of them.

                    Section 27.33  When it is deemed appropriate for preserving the 

safety, cleanliness and tidiness of national museums, the Minister shall have the 

power to issue a Ministerial Regulation on conducts of visitors during their visit 

and may fix admission fee or any other fees.

 

                                                    CHAPTER 4

                                                  Archaeological Fund

                                                    _______________

                    

                    Section 28.  There  shall  be  set  up a  fund called the 

"Archaeological Fund" for the expenses of operation profitable to ancient 

monuments or museum activity.

                    Section 29.  The archaeological fund consists of:

 

_________________________

33

 Ibid.

 

 

                    (1)          money acquired under this Act;

                    (2)          monetary benefits accuring from ancient monuments;

                    (3)          donation in cash or property;

                    (4)          central fund or capital money which, under the law on 

ancient monuments, objects of art, antiques and national museums, is at the 

disposal of the Department of Fine Arts on the day of the coming into force of 

this Act.

                    Section 30.  The keeping and the payment of archaeological fund 

shall be in compliance with rules prescribed by the Minister.

 

                                              CHAPTER 4 BIS34

                                  Suspension and Revocation of Licences

                                                    _______________                        

 

                    Section 30 bis.  When any licensee violates or does not comply 

with this Act, Ministerial Regulation, Notification or rules issued under this Act 

or conditions imposed by the Director-General, the Director-General shall have 

the power to suspend the licence for a period of not more than sixty days each 

time; but in the case where a licensee is prosecuted in the Court for an offence 

under this Act, the Director-General may suspend the licence pending the final 

judgment of the Court.

 

_________________________

34

 As added by section 27, ibid.

 

 

                    The person whose licence has been suspended shall not apply for 

any licence under this Act during the period of such suspension.

                    Section 30 ter.  When it appears that any licensee has received the 

final judgement of the Court for a violation of this Act or violates the order of 

suspension, the Director-General shall have the power to revoke his licence.

                    The person whose licence has been rovoked shall not apply for any 

licence under this Act until the period of two years from the date of the 

revocation has elapsed.

                    Section 30 quarter.  The licensee shall be notified of the order of 

suspension and the order of revocation in writing.  In the case where the person 

whose licence has been suspended or rovoked is not found or refuses to recieve 

the order, such order shall be posted at the conspicuous place specified in the 

licence or the domicile of such licensee, and such licensee shall be deemed to 

have known thereof from the date of posting the order.

                    The order of suspension and the order of revocation under 

paragraph one shall be published in the Government Gazette and may propagate 

in newspaper or by other method.

                    Section 30 quinque.  The person whose licence has been 

suspended shall have the right to appeal in writing to the Minister within thirty 

days from the date of his or her being aware of the order.

                    The decision of the Minister shall be final.

                    The appeal under paragraph one shall not stay the execution of the 

order of suspension or revocation.

 

 

 

                                                       CHAPTER 5

                                                          Penalties

                                                   _______________             

      

                    Section 31.35  Any  person  who  finds  any  antique  or object of 

art which is buried in, concealed or abandoned at any place under such 

circumstances that no person could claim to be its owner and converts the same to 

himself or herself or to other person, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term 

not exceeding seven years or to a fine not exceeding seven hundred thousand 

Baht or to both.

                    Section 31 bis.36  Any person who conceals, disposes, makes 

away with, purchases, or receives in pledge or otherwise any antique or object of 

art obtained through the commission of an offence under section 31 shall be 

liable to imprisonment for a term not  exceeding  five  years or to a fine not 

exceeding five hundred thousand Baht or to both.                              

                    If the offence  under  paragraph  one  is  committed  for 

commercial purposes, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not 

exceeding seven years or to a fine not exceeding seven hundred thousand Baht or to both.

                    Section 32.37 Any person who trespasses ancient monument or 

damages, destroys, causes depreciation in value to or makes useless of any 

ancient monument, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 

seven years or to a fine not exceeding seven hundred thousand Baht or to both.

 

_________________________

35

 As amended by section 28, ibid.

36

 As added by section 29, ibid.

37

 As amended by section 30, ibid.

 

 

 

  

                    If the offence under paragraph one is committed against the 

registered ancient monument, the offender shall be liable to imprisonment for a 

term not exceeding ten years or to a fine not exceeding one million Baht or to 

both.

                    Section 33.38  Any person who damages, destroys, causes 

depreciation in value to, makes useless of or loss any registered antique or object 

of art, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding ten years or to a 

fine not exceeding one million Baht or to both.

                    Section 34.39  Any person who does not comply with section 9, 12, 

13 paragraph two, 14 bis, 16, 17 or 20 or does not comply with the Ministerial 

Regulations issued under section 13 or 27 shall be liable to imprisonment for a 

term not exceeding one month or to a fine not exceeding ten thousand Baht or to 

both.

                    Section 35.40  Any person who violates section 10 or does not 

comply with the conditions imposed by the Director-General in the licence under 

section 10, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or 

to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand Baht or to both.

                    Section 36.41  Any person who trades in antiques or objects of art 

not to be traded by the notification issued under section 14 paragraph two or 

violates section 15 or does not comply with the conditions imposed by the 

 

_________________________

38

 As amended by section 30, ibid.

39

 As amended by section 31, ibid.

40

 Ibid.

41

 As amended by section 32, ibid.

 

 

 

  

Director-General in the licence under section 15, shall be liable to 

imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years or to a fine not exceeding five 

hundred thousand Baht or to both.

                    Section 36 bis.42  Any person who does not comply with the 

notification issued under section 18 bis paragraph two or does not inform a list of 

his produced items to the Director-General or does not show a sign of duplication 

on his or her produced item under section 18 bis paragraph two, shall be liable to  

imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to a fine not exceeding one 

hundred thousand Baht or to both.

                    Section 37.43  Any person who does not comply with section 19 

paragraph one shall be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three 

years or to a fine not exceeding three hundred thousand Baht or to both.

                    Section 37 bis.44  Any person who does not comply with section 

19  bis or the notification issued under section 19 bis shall be liable to 

imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to a fine not exceeding fifty 

thousand Baht or to both.

                    Section 37 ter.45  Any person who obstructs or does not provide 

reasonable  facilities  to  the  Director-General or person  entrusted by him or her 

or the competent official who is performing the  duties  under  this Act shall be 

 

_________________________

42

 As added by section 33, ibid.

43

 As amended by section 34, ibid.

44

 As added by section 35, ibid.

45

 Ibid.

 

 

 

  

liable to imprisonment for a  term not exceeding one month or to a fine not 

exceeding ten thousand Baht or to both.

                    Section 38.46  Any person who, in violation of section 22, exports 

or takes out of the Kingdom any non-registered antique or object of art shall be 

liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to a fine not 

exceeding seven hundred thousand Baht or to both.

                    Section 39.47  Any person who, in violation of section 22, exports 

or takes out of the Kingdom any registered antique or object of art shall be liable 

to imprisonment for a term of one year to ten years and to a fine not exceeding 

one million Baht.

 

                                       Transitory Provisions

                                                 _______________

                       

                    Section 40.  Any person who, on the day of the coming into force 

of this Act, trades in antiques or objects of art or as his or her regular business, 

displays the same to the public for collecting admission fee shall apply to the 

Director-General for a licence to that effect within thirty days from the day of the 

coming into force of this Act.

 

_________________________

46

 As amended by section 36, ibid.

47

 Ibid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                    The provisions of sections 19 and 20 shall not apply to the  person  

who  trades in antiques or objects of art or as his or  her regular business, displays 

the same to the public for collecting admission fee, and has applied for a licence 

in comformity with the foregoing paragraph, thus as from the day of the coming 

into force of this Act up to the day of receiving the licence.

 

 

Countersigned by:

          Field-Marshal S.Dhanarajata

                    Prime Minister

 

 

Certified correct translation

 

 

(Dr. Ackaratorn  Chularat)

Secretary-General of the Council of State

Office of the Council of State

 

 

Rates of Fees48

                                               _______________         

 

(1)          Licence under section 19                                                20,000       Baht  each

(2)          Licence under section 22

          (a)          Antiques or objects of art which

                    the Department of the Fine Arts 

                    deems as dated from Ayudhya and 

                    earlier periods, not exceeding                               2,000          Baht  each

          (b)          Antiques or objects of art which

                    the Department of Fine Arts deems

                    as dated in the period later than

                    Ayudhya period, not exceeding                               1,000          Baht  each

(3)          Licence substitute                                                                100        Baht  each

(4)      Renewal of a licence             each time equal to 

          the fee for the 

          licence

 

_________________________

48

 As amended by section 37, ibid.