Cambodia Marks Anniversary of Preah Vihear’s World Heritage Status

By Soy Sophea

At 11:00 am on July 7, Cambodian people and foreign visitors will hear the sound of bells from all pagodas, schools and universities. They will be rung to mark the first anniversary of Preah Vihear’s inclusion on the World Heritage Site List.

Prime Minister Hun Sen recently advised all Cambodia’s pagodas and schools to ring the bells
to commemorate the inclusion. He added however that the celebrations were not to be considered a snub to Thailand. “Cambodia is cheering; if Thailand is upset, that’s a Thai matter and I couldn’t not care less about it,” he said. “The celebrations are contained within our national
boundary and we include Preah Vihear within those boundaries.”
The Premier said he wants to see a complete demilitarization of the border area before July 15, 2008. He added that Thailand should not turn its internal affairs outwards to create hostility with neighbors. “I tell you that Cambodia is the builder of the Angkor and Preah Vihear temples,” the Premier said during a graduation ceremony at the National Institute of Education.

“Cambodians are Angkor-blooded builders but not Angkor invaders.” A concert is scheduled for
7:00pm at the National Olympic Stadium that will be presided over by Deputy Prime Minister Sok An, Minister of Council of Ministers.

Sok An is also the special envoy to UNESCO’s (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) recent meeting in Seville, Spain, June 23-30. He is scheduled to deliver a report on his successful mission to the audience. It will also be broadcast live via Bayon Television.

According to Prime Minister Hun Sen, Srey Doek, Military Commander at Preah Vihear will also join the concert and make a report on the military situation on the border. Rith Chettra, Deputy Director of Bayon Television, said that his station is authorized to hold the concertto celebrate the anniversary. He told The Southeast Asia Weekly on July 2, “We are to cooperate with the Phnom Penh municipality to hold the concert,” adding that the program will contain modern and traditional song and dance routines. Chettra said that he would use the televised
opportunity to seek fi nancial assistance for Cambodian troops on the borders. “I believe that overseas Cambodians will contribute their support to our program,” he said.

“As a Khmer, I believe the concert should be conducted in the spirit of Cambodian unity.”
Bayon Television, which is managed by Hun Mana, elder daughter of Prime Minister Hun Sen, has launched a fundraising drive to help repair roads connecting to Preah Vihear temple. According to Chettra, this fund has raised more than one million US dollars for road
construction and rest halls along the road to the top of the cliff.

The University of Cambodia (UC) is going to celebrate the Anniversary. Chheng Sovannka, UC Student Senate President, told The Southeast Asia Weekly, “We will sing a national song altogether to celebrate the anniversary.” Sovannka added that about 200 UC students are expected to join the program. She said that she too would initiate a fundraising scheme to assist soldiers stationed on the border. “I believe that all kind people will join our program in support of our soldiers,” she said. Cambodia’s Preah Vihear temple was given world heritage status on July 7, 2008 in Quebec, Canada at the 32nd UNESCO meeting. This was in spite of Thailand’s request for joint stewardship of the area.

From 23-30 June 2009, at the 33rd UNESCO meeting in Seville, Spain, Thailand renewed objections by asking UNESCO to withdraw Preah Vihear’s world heritage status under the protection of Cambodia. Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva irritated Cambodia earlier last June, suggesting Cambodia and Thailand share Preah Vihear temple. The rationale for this was explained on June 27, 2009 when Deputy Thai Prime Minister Suthep met the Cambodian
Prime Minister.