tim chapman timc2ubhcom httpnewsbbccouk1hiworldasiapacific2220132stm tuesday 27 august 2002 2135 gmt 2235 uk cambodia temple ruins yield treasure workers clearing dense jungle near ruins ancient pagoda northern cambodia unearthed 31 buddha statues 27 solid gold statues 10 centimetres 4 inches tall good condition believed hundreds years old found saturday workers rebuilding po pich temple 100 km 65miles north capital phnom penh pagoda batay district kampong thom province torn reign khmer rouge 1970s area became overgrown community care deputy police chief kampong thom province hang sithim said statues three silver one bronze buried one metre 34ft earth weigh around 500 grams 1lb think buddha statues buried hundreds years ago last temple fully operating mr hang sithim said provincial authorities initially planned take statues nearby town safekeeping opted allow buddhist community temple take care believe safe said som somphat deputy governor kampong thom province people po pich pledged treat respect honour reign terror police guard placed around site protect looters khmer rouge waged civil war cambodia 1970 1998 controlled country 1975 1979 regime outlawed religion destroyed many objects regarded decadent culturally impure two million people died khmer rouges drive turn cambodia farmers utopia yahoo groups sponsor 4 dvds free sp join httpusclickyahoocompt6ybbnxieaamvfiaa7gsolbtm unsubscribe group send email forteanaunsubscribeegroupscom use yahoo groups subject httpdocsyahoocominfoterms wed 28 aug 2002 092434 0100 zzzzteana cambodian buddhaas unearthed