Cambodia Requests Inclusion of More Temples on World Heritage List

BY BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA

The Royal Government of Cambodia has made a request to the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in Paris, France, to include more temples and examples of traditional dances in the list of World Heritage Properties. Their inclusion will preserve these temples and other cultural artifacts for generations to come, said Him Chhem, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts (MoCFA).

The Minister said that his government recently requested UNESCO to insert Banteay Chhmar and Sambor Prey Kub temples in the list of World Heritage Properties, as well as Khmer traditional dances like Lakhaon Polsrey, Lakhaon Kol, Cheang Torng (Goldsmith) and Chapei Dangveng. These ancient expressions of Khmer culture encapsulate the pride, dignity and persistence of Cambodia and are thus worthy of inclusion in the list.

“We have asked UNESCO personnel to include the two Cambodian temples, traditional forms of theatre and dances in the Cultural Heritage List as we are certain that Humanity will agree these properties are worthy subjects to be preserved and protected against time,” the Minister told the Cambodia Weekly by telephone on November 3.

The Minister continued, “We want people around the world to know that temples and a vast range of fine Khmer culture continue to exist in the Kingdom of Cambodia. If they wish to see these priceless temples, then Cambodia will welcome all such visitors with open arms.”

Som Sokun, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said that Cambodian culture is known and respected across the globe and stands as an archetype for cultural expression in Southeast Asia.

Cambodia can boast numberless landmarks and an admirable repertoire of intangible cultural heritage in the form of dance, music and theatre. This art is set amidst some of Nature’s most spectacular scenery – all of which contrives to make Cambodia one of Southeast Asia’s richest repositories of delight, he said.

To date, the Cambodian government has been successful in getting five of the Nation’s prioritized traditional dances and temple sites included on the world heritage list, according to Sokun. He said that UNESCO has already included Royal Ballet, Sbeik Thom, Tonle Sap Lake, Angkor Wat and its compound areas, and Preah Vihear Temple in the list.

To achieve more representation, Sokun said his Ministry had recently submitted a proposal through the Cambodian National Committee, which works in amicable partnership with UNESCO, to include the Prasat Banteay Chhmar and Prasat Prey Kub, as well as Lakhaon Khoal, Chapei Dang Veng and Cheang Torng.

“We believe with all our hearts in the necessity of inclusion for these classical Khmer dances and the temples in the list. We then can then take appropriate measures to ensure the conservation of these properties for generations to come,” he said.

The Secretary of State said that his ministry has been working hard to train new students, teachers and researchers to appreciate the vitality of Cambodia’s past, as expressed in outstanding works of art. They will then be capable of communicating this appreciation to scholars of Khmer culture across the world.

He said his ministry is now collaborating with involved ministries, institutions and other partners in Cambodia to build a library of documents to classify and describe the full range of surviving Khmer cultures and traditions.

Meas Sarun, Technical Secretary General of MoCFA, said that according to report, there were up to 4,500 traditional dances and 256 different styles of music in Cambodia. He also said that because of the turbulent past, 102 traditional dances and 31 theatrical styles were now lost forever. Of the remainder the Ministry had managed to codify and preserve 72 traditional dances and 27 traditional theatre styles and these were now enjoying a renaissance in Cambodia.

He added that to date, MoCFA, in collaboration with others, was working very hard to research and hopefully find material on those art forms that fell victim to the dark years of the ‘70’s.

Teruo Jinnai, representative of UNESCO in Cambodia, is fully aware of the value and extent of Cambodian culture, and believes the nation is one of the richest in terms of artistic wealth in the entire region.

Jinnai recently said at the opening session of a Workshop on the Basics of Royal Ballet, held at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, that Royal Ballet is considered to be a “Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity”. The dance style gained this reputation on November 7, 2003, whilst Sbeik Thom was included in the list on 25 May 2005.

“From this point on, Cambodians assumed supreme proprietorship over these Masterpieces, but they became the possessions of the whole world. Being involved in this process was a pure pleasure and I will remember those days as the most exciting of my time here in Cambodia,” he said. “It is a pleasure to see that recently many Cambodians are coming to cultural events, and enjoying music, films and performing arts. We are ready to support the MoCFA in further efforts to promote public awareness of Cambodian intangible heritage. We can turn these performances into annual events, both for the provinces and urban areas.”

He continued, “We are happily committed to continue to work with masters, artists, and the Ministry to safeguard, preserve and promote the cultural heritage of the Kingdom of Cambodia.”
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