AKP, July 18, 2017 – Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen has announced to set July 10 every year as a memorial day for the listing of Cambodia’s ancient temples as World Heritage Site.
The premier made the announcement while he and his spouse presided over the official celebration of Sambor Prei Kuk’s registration on the UNESCO’s World Heritage List, held at the National Olympic Stadium, Phnom Penh yesterday evening.
On behalf of the Royal Government of Cambodia, Samdech Techo Hun Sen thanked members of the World Heritage Committee for their recognition of Sambor Prei Kuk’s universal value as well as UNESCO, Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and all relevant parties for their participation in the listing process.
Taking the opportunity, Samdech Techo Hun Sen appealed to all his compatriots to contribute to the protection and conservation of both tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
Sambor Prei Kuk, a group of Khmer ancient temples, encompasses 3,000 hectare land surface in the forest in Sambo village, Sambo commune, Prasat Sambo district, Kampong Thom province. It became a new World Heritage Site on July 8, 2017 during the 41st session of the World Heritage Committee held in Krakow, Poland.
With Sambor Prei Kuk, Cambodia has in total seven heritages registered on the World Heritage List. The Historic Site of Angkor was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1992, Preah Reach Troap Dance (Royal Ballet) and Lakhon Sbek Thom (big shadow puppet) were proclaimed masterpieces of Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity respectively in 2003 and 2005, the 11th-century Preah Vihear Temple was listed a World Heritage Site in 2008, Teanh Prot (tug-of-war), a popular recreational game, was named an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in 2015, and Chapei Dang Veng, a Cambodian musical instrument, was registered in 2016 on the UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Need of Urgent Safeguarding.
By So Sophavy
