a Phnom Penh Post Special Report CAMBODIA
WHC 37th2013
World Heritage Cambodia A proud moment in Cambodia’s history The huge extent of the Khmer Empire in the year 900
Written and prepared by Stuart Alan Becker and centre spread by Jean-Michel Filippi
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THE PHNOM PENH POST • JUNE 14, 2013 www.phnompenhpost.com
World Heritage Cambodia
Kingdom hosts largest-ever foreign delegation oth the Royal Government of Cambodia and the private sector are buzzing with activity in preparation to welcome the estimated 1,400 delegates to the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, which Cambodia hosts this year from this Sunday, June 16, to Thursday, June 27. The Royal Government’s spokesman for the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee, Ek Tha, said the number of confirmed delegates had increased, thus increasing the importance of Cambodia’s hosting role. Cambodia already has two inscribed World Heritage Sites; Angkor, which was inscribed in 1992, and Preah Vihear, which was inscribed in 2008. For intangible heritage, the Royal Ballet of Cambodia was
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inscribed on the UNESCO list in 2003. The Khmer shadow theatre known as Sbek Thom was proclaimed a UNESCO masterpiece of oral and intangible heritage of humanity on November 25, 2005. The grounds of Toul Sleng where an estimated 14,000 people were tortured and later murdered was inscribed in 2009 in the UNESCO register of World Heritage. The Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve is a unique ecological phenomenon surrounding the Tonle Sap, which is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, was nominated in 1997 as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Cambodia, as host this year to the delegates of the World Heritage Committee, is understood not to be nominating any properties
this year for inscription. A tentative list of nine properties were submitted in 1992 including the Banteay Chmar temple, the Banteay Prei Nokor temple complex, the Beng Mealea temple, the Prah Khan temple at Kompong Svay, the Sambor Prei Kuk temple complex, the Koh Ker temple complex , the Angkor Borei and Phnom Da sites, the Oudong complex and the Kulen site. Government spokesman for the WHC delegation Ek Tha said the WHC has 190 member countries, of which at least 90 countries had already confirmed to attend the meetings that last until June 27. “We will also have international youths who are coming from 14 countries,” said Ek Tha. “Preah Vihear temple was
listed as a World Heritage site in Canada in 2008 after Cambodia submitted a stack of documents about master plan, management and so on,” he said. “Potential sites have to go through the assessment by the three mechanisms such as experts from ICCROM, which deals with tangible monuments, ICOMOS, which deals with sites and monuments, and ICUN which deals with nature before hand, whether or not the site is inscribed or listed,” he said. “Also, the session will review the current situation on the ground for other UNlisted temples as well as take action on how to improve the protection and preservation of UN-listed historic sites for those on endangered list,” he said. As of September 2012, 190 countries have ratified the
Schedule for the 37th meeting of the World Heritage Committee Date
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
16 June
17 June
18 June
19 June
20 June
21 June
22 June
23 June
24 June
25 June
26June
27 June
Staff Meeting
Staff Meeting
Staff Meeting
Staff Meeting
Staff Meeting
Staff Meeting
Staff Meeting
Staff Meeting
Bureau session Champa Room 3rd Floor (E-F)
Bureau sessionChampa Room 3rd Floor
Bureau sessionChampa Room 3rd Floor
Bureau session (E-F)Champa Room 3rd Floor
Bureau session (E-F)Champa Room 3rd Floor
Bureau session (E-F)Champa Room 3rd Floor
Bureau session (E-F)Champa Room 3rd Floor
Bureau sessionChampa Room 3rd Floor (E-F)
(E-F)
(E-F)
PLENARY 1 Morning session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 3 Morning session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 5 Morning session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 7 Morning session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 9 Morning session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 11 Morning session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 13 Morning Session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 15 Morning session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 17 Morning session (E-F-S-A)
Press Conference (tbc) (E-F) Room:
-Budget Group Champei Room
-Budget Group Champei Room
-Budget Group Champei Room
-Budget Group Champei Room
-Budget Group Champei Room
-Word Rock art archive (HEADS programme) E-S Champei Room
- LAC periodic reporting meeting E-S Room : 1 &2
08:00 – 08:30 08:30 – 09:00
09:00 – 12:30
Registration 10:00 - 12:00
12:30 – 14:30 / Lunch break
Registration 14:00 – 18:00
14:30 – 19:00
Press Conference (tbc) (E-F)
Bureau session 14:00 – 16:00 (E-F)
Round table of African Ministers of Culture, Organizers : AWHF and Africa Unit TBC Room :
-Operational Guide- -Operational Guidelines Group
lines Group (E-F) Champa Room 3rd Floor
PANASONIC Press Conference TO BE CONFIRMED Room:
PLENARY 2 PLENARY 4 Afternoon session Afternoon session (E-F-S-A) (E-F-S-A)
(E-F)Champa Room 3rd Floor
-Operational Guide- -Operational Guidelines -Operational Group (E-F)Champa Guidelines Group
lines Group (E-F) Champa Room 3rd Floor
Room 3rd Floor
- CESEE capacitybuilding strategy -Category 2 Consul(EUR)Room : 1 &2 tation Meeting - Steering committee of the Periodic reporting programme at AWHFRoom : 1 &2
-Periodic Reporting, Europe and North America (EUR) Room : 1 &2
PLENARY 6 Afternoon session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 8 Afternoon session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 10 Afternoon session (E-F-S-A)
Finland Reception CONFIRMED 4th Floor
Congo SIDE Event
Swiss Side Event Capacity Building CONFIRMED
(E-F)Champa Room 3rd Floor
18:00 Opening Ceremony at Palais de la Paix (E-F-)
Reception
Philippines Exhibition launching 4th Floor CONFIRMED
Photo Exhibition of Cambodia’s Heritage “Forest and Temple” Presided over by H.E. Mr. Hem Chhem, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts
Room : 1 &2
(Report Preparation)
Angkor
Angkor
-Presentation of the Angkor Heritage Management Framework Room : 1 &2
PLENARY 12 PLENARY 14 Afternoon session Afternoon (E-F-S-A) Session (E-F-S-A)
PLENARY 16 Afternoon session (E-F-S-A)
(Report Preparation)
PLENARY 18 Afternoon session (E-F-S-A) Adoption of Decisions
Side events?
Side events?
Orientation session 16:00 – 17:00 (E-F-)
Evening
TRIP TO ANGKOR
Room : 1 &2 Confirmed Ibero-American Korean Side Event?? Youth Forum organise by Ministry of Culture of Spain E-S ROOM TO BE CONFIRMED
UK Side Event Confirmed
Room : 1 &2
COMPACT side event (UNF/ GEF SGP) To be Confirmed Room : 1 &2
Angkor
Closing Ceremony At Angkor
we can to inform the public about the event. Is this the first time Cambodia has had leading role for such a UN committee? Yes, this is the first time. Cambodia was elected for this role during the 36th session of the World Heritage Committee in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, as Chairperson of the 37th session WHC meeting in Phnom Penh for 2013.
Preah Vihear temple
1972 International Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage. The total includes 962 sites of which 745 are cultural sites, 188 are natural sites and 29 mixed sites. The current composition of the World Heritage Committee is as follows: Algeria, Cambodia, Colombia, Estonia, Ethiopia, France, Germany, India, Iraq, Japan, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Qatar, Russian Federation, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates. Spokesman Ek Tha also took time to answer a few questions: Did Cambodia receive financial support to help hold this meeting of the World Heritage Committee? No. We did not receive any financial support. The Royal Government of Cambodia spends its own money for this event. The World Heritage Center and UNESCO of course has provided secretariat and technical support. How can the media and the public participate in these events? We have a huge media centre for national and international journalists who cover the event. Internet connections will be provided and on the top of that you can follow the proceedings live on the internet. Local television stations including the government-funded TVK encouraged to broadcast of the event live. We will do what
What does it mean for Cambodia to preside over this international committee? This event sends a strong international signal that the Kingdom of Cambodia is more than just a peaceful nation that attracts tourists and investment, but is also playing a greater role at the global level by bringing together the cultural experts and policy makers to seek ways how to protect and preserve the cultural and natural heritage worldwide. What does Cambodia hope to accomplish during the committee meeting? With Cambodia’s role as chair of the 37th Session of the WHC for this year, the session expects to inscribe an unknown number of sites with voting from the 21 members of the WHC. The meeting will attract at least 1,000 representatives from countries who have signed the convention. How does the Cambodian government feel about hosting delegates from so many countries? We are thrilled to host this event to show the world that Cambodia is capable in handling of hosting big number of delegates from different parts of the world. We are ready to fly our flag to welcome the delegations from different corners of the world. This is a great moment for us to show that despite our turbulent past, our country is rapidly developing, safe, friendly and wonderful place to visit and spend time.
Tentative program for the opening ceremony of the 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee Date : Sunday, June 16, 2013 Venue : Peace Palace Room : Romdoul Arrival of honorable national and international 18:30 participants of the 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee 18:55
Arrival of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia
19:00 Announcement of ceremony 19:03 National anthem of the Kingdom of Cambodia 19:05 Art performance (royal ballet and folk dance) Welcome Remarks by HE Dr Sok An, Deputy Prime 19:15 Minister and Chairman of the 37th Session of World Heritage Committee 19:25
Reports of activities and Declaration of World Heritage Youth Forum
19:35
Remarks by HE Mrs Irina Bokova, Director-General of UNESCO
19:45
Opening address of Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Cambodia End of program
Welcome reception and art performance at the Diamond Island (all participants are requested 20:30 to proceed to the buses directly arranged by the National Organizing Committee at the ground floor)
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World Heritage Cambodia
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Chairman and Deputy PM welcomes WHC C
ambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister Sok An said Cambodia would have a longterm interest in the protection of the country’s monuments, culture and heritage. During a press conference yesterday morning at Cambodia’s Council of Ministers building on Russian Boulevard, the deputy prime minister said Cambodia had come a long way since the killing fields and was working to create an atmosphere for sustainable tourism and protection of monuments. “You can see the heritage of Angkor on our flag,” he said. “After the liberation from the genocidal regime, we have come a long way to be host and chairman of the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee.” With the arrival of an estimated 350 journalists along with the WHC delegation, the deputy prime minister said hosting the WHC delegation was an excellent opportunity for Cambodian people to show their history and culture. “We are proud of the preservation of our cultural heritage in the Kingdom of Cambodia with sustainable
Deputy Prime Minister and World Heritage Committee Cambodia Chairman Sok An.
development,” he said, “This is the time to show our history and culture.” The deputy prime minister, who also serves as the chairman of the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee on Cambodia’s behalf, said the people who are coming to Cambodia for the first time will be confronted with the reality of Cambodia. “The visitors can say to their friends and relatives the reality of Cambodia, the richness of the culture, all kinds of tangible and intangible heritage. This is a very precious message we want visitors to take home with them,” he said. “Tourism is important for Cambodia and now we are
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expending to eco-tourism,” he said. “This is also a very good opportunity for visitors to understand our culture. We want to show to the world that Cambodia is really the Kingdom of Wonder and you can see that by our attachment to our culture and heritage,” he said. He said studies were being carried out on how to keep all the monuments like Angkor in good condition, given the growing numbers of visitors each year.
The pyramid at Koh Ker. This is the site where statues were looted and should be on their way back to Cambodia.
Which States Parties are currently Members of the Committee? The 21 State members of the current World Heritage Committee are the following (with the date of termination of current mandate):
Tentative program for the closing ceremony of the 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee Date : Thursday, June 27, 2013 Venue : Elephant Terrace, Angkor
Algeria
(2015)
Malaysia
(2015)
Cambodia
(2013)
Mali
(2013)
Colombia
(2015)
Mexico
(2013)
Arrival of Honorable National and International 18:00 participants of the 37th Session of the World Heritage Committee Arrival of Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and 18:20 Chairman of the 37th Session of WHC
Estonia
(2013)
Qatar
(2015)
18:25 Announcement of Ceremony
Ethiopia
(2013)
Russian Federation
(2013)
18:30
Welcome remarks by the Governor of Siem Reap Province
France
(2013)
Senegal
(2015)
Germany
(2015)
Serbia
(2015)
18:40
Reports of the Secretariat of the National Organizing Committee
India
(2015)
South Africa
(2013)
18:50
Remarks of the Representative of the DirectorGeneral of UNESCO,
Iraq
(2013)
Switzerland
(2013)
19:00
Japan
(2015)
Thailand
(2013)
Closing remarks by Sok An, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the 37th Session of WHC
19:15
Farwell reception at the Elephant Terrace (Angkor Park) with cultural performance
United Arab Emirates (2013)
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World Heritage Cambodia
Khmer statues likely to come home T
wo important statues of the Hindu deity Duryodhana that stood as spiritual guardians for more than a thousand years at one of the gateways in the Prasat Chen temple at Koh Ker in Preah Vihear province are likely to be returned to Cambodia. One of the Hindu statues is in the possession of a museum in California that has indicated it would be returning it to Cambodia, while the other is the subject of a court battle involving a Belgian collector and Sotheby’s auction house. The Prasat Chen temple complex at Koh Ker, which includes a pyramid, was once the seat of the Khmer Empire from 928 to 944 under the reign of the kings Jayavarman IV and Harshavarman II and has been on the tentative UNESCO world heritage list since 1992. The one in New York had been intended to be sold by auction house Sotheby’s by a private collector in Belgium only to be challenged by the US Attorney’s office
which is acting on behalf of Cambodia, which it contends is the rightful owner. Legal advisors Sciaroni & Associates’ Managing Partner Matt Rendall has been actively involved in the case which is now on its way to trial. Rendall may be asked to testify at the trial in New York. He believes there’s a good chance the statue will be returned to Cambodia. The statue in question is a Hindu deity called Duryodhana and once stood on a pedestal near the entry to the western pavilion at Prasat Chen and the feet of that statue remain there today. The statue is believed to have been looted from the temple during the periods of unrest in the 1970s. In 1975, a Belgian private collector purchased the Duryodhana from an auction house in the United Kingdom. According to the laws of French Indochina and Cambodia, the statue has been the legal property of Cambodia. That’s the contention of the US Attorney’s office, which
filed a complaint on April 4, 2012, with the statue itself as the defendant. The complaint says the 10th Century sandstone statue was illicitly removed from Prasat Chen Temple and that it is subject to forfeiture because it is stolen property that was brought into the United States in violation of the law. Thus, the United States is contending that the owner of the statue is Cambodia. The case came to Rendall from an archaeologist friend who had been working with an antiquities protection NGO who contacted him saying the US Attorney’s office wanted someone in Cambodia for assistance and research on the case. “They wanted somebody to provide testimony on property laws relating to antiquities and this is largely to do with illustrating that the law here provides that these artifacts belonged to the state at the time they were taken, and to acquire such artifacts you needed the permission of the state,� Rendall said. Rendall and his team hired people to translate
Duryodhana
laws from the French Protectorate period of Cambodian history to put together expert testimony and submitted 60 pages to support the prosecution’s case. Archaeologist Tess Davis has been instrumental in the case, according to Rendall. The other statue from the same temple that ended up in a museum in Los Angeles should be on its way back to Cambodia soon, Rendall said. “The museum has agreed apparently to hand it back to Cambodia,� he said. The one in New York is pending trial. “Sotheby’s is saying it was removed legally and they have no reason to give it
up, and the US Attorneys are arguing otherwise, and we are supporting the US attorney’s case,� Rendall said. “The defence went for a motion to dismiss, and they lost on that, and it is going to trial. The American court found there is a case to be heard. In the Southern District of New York, US is the plaintiff, and the sculpture itself is the defendant. They’re actually suing the object itself.� Rendall, who has a Cambodian wife and family and first came to Cambodia as a lawyer representing Cambodian asylum-seeking boat people, says the US government is spending a lot of taxpayer’s money to get the statue back to Cambodia. “This was an initiative of the US government,� Rendall said. “The artifact is being held by Sotheby’s and once it goes into the custody of the US government, the US government will return it to Cambodia. I’m fairly confident it will be returned to Cambodia. “The Belgian family themselves could even return it in concert with Sotheby’s. In any event I’m fairly confident it will
eventually end up back in Cambodia.� Rendall says details are starting to emerge about how the artifact was first taken from Cambodia. Even though the case is on its way to trial, Rendall has doubts that a trial will happen. In many such cases, rather than be brought to trial, the clients settle out of court. “I would actually be surprised if it went to trial. The tide is turning against the antiquities trade,� he said. “As far as we’re concerned, this artifact rightfully belongs to Cambodia,� he said. “There is something to be said for at least recognising dominion. For the Cambodian people themselves, their ancestors made these artifacts, so at least the dominion needs to be recognised. Let’s have the control with the Cambodian people.� Rendall’s expectation is that the sandstone statue will ultimately come back to Cambodia. “Our expectation is that it will ultimately come back and not be held by a private person. The rightful owners should have a say. As someone who has a Cambodian wife, I feel strongly about it,� he said.
Positive outcome for Preah Vihear
Cambodia, Kingdom of Wonder and People of Smile We warmly welcome senior delegates and distinguished guests from 113 countries around the globe attending ³D SOHQDU\ PHHWLQJ RI WKH WK ZRUOG KHULWDJH FRPPLWWHH´ LQ JODPRURXV &DPERGLD IURP -XQH May your mission be successful in all your tasks and VWD\ DV ZHOO DV \RXU VDIH WULS On behalf of the management and tourism stakeholders would like to congratulate sincerely for the Royal Government of &DPERGLD WR KRVWLQJ WKLV KLVWRULF PHHWLQJ Wishes from the management and colleagues of Tourism Industry 0U +2 9DQG\ &R &KDLU RI 7RXULVP :RUNLQJ *URXS
When you look at the role of antiquities for Cambodia’s place in the world, not only for the tourism industry, but for the link the old temples represent for Cambodians with their own cultural heritage, their importance transcends even politics. So says Bretton Sciaroni, who has been a legal advisor for four out of the last five Cambodian delegations to the World Heritage Committee, since 2008. “This issue rises above politics for Cambodians. Cambodia has a rich cultural history which can be seen in all the temple complexes and traditional Khmer dance. The fact that we have the World Heritage Committee meeting this year shows that issues of cultural heritage rise above politics, something all Cambodians appreciate regardless of political affiliations,� Sciaroni said. The American legal advisor and senior partner of Sciaroni & Associates says the fact that Cambodia agreed to host the World Heritage Committee in the middle of an election year shows how important it is to Cambodia’s leaders. “Cambodia has wanted to host the annual meeting of WHC for a number of years but circumstances didn’t permit it until this year. The great amount of interest that Cambodia has in the protection of cultural heritage can be seen in the fact that Cambodia
agreed to host the WHC meeting in the middle of an election year, when many government officials are focused on the elections,� Sciaroni said. Sciaroni has been personally involved in the dispute with Thailand over Preah Vihear since it was inscribed as a World Heritage site. “In 1962 the International Court of Justice clearly stated that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. The Thais dispute the maps that were used in the decision and the Thais say they own the land up to the temple. The maps used in 1962 clearly show where the border is,� Sciaroni said. “I am very optimistic that Cambodia will prevail. Hearings were held in April in the International Court of Justice in The Hague, and the decision will be published by this fall,� he said. He said Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had help improve relations between Thailand and Cambodia. “Since Yingluck Shinawatra became Prime Minister, despite this controversy, relations with the Thais have improved and we hope that the International Court of Justice decision will settle this issue once and for all,� Sciaroni said. Sciaroni’s own firm has been involved in the return of ancient statues removed from Cambodia during the 1970s. Sciaroni’s
colleague and Managing Partner Matthew Rendall is serving as a witness for the US Attorney’s office for the Southern District of New York to provide legal analysis and historical research. On behalf of Cambodia, the US Attorney’s office has filed suit say the statue was a looted artifact. Famous auction house Sotheby’s had been preparing to auction the statue, which originated in the Koh Ker Temple in Preah Vihear Province, on behalf of Belgian clients who had possession of it. “Sotheby’s said they had no idea it was a looted artifact,� Sciaroni said. “Somebody had to get a truck in there to get it out.� Sciaroni said his firm works for the Cambodian government on many different issues. “Our firm has always had a commitment to Cambodia larger than just servicing our clients and we work with the government on many different issues. Cambodia’s hosting of the World Heritage Committee is a great chance to showcase Cambodia to the world to thousands of people who have never been here before, and they will be able to go back to their respective countries and speak knowledgeably about what a wonderful place Cambodia is to visit. Whenever we can get people to visit Cambodia, everybody wins,� Sciaroni said.
THE PHNOM PENH POST • JUNE 14, 2013 www.phnompenhpost.com
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World Heritage Cambodia
Chinese family remembers the past
W
hen you go to the Post Office in Phnom Penh, look to your left and you’ll see Van’s Restaurant. The building is the old Bank of Indochina from the period of the French Protectorate and the childhood home of Van Porleng, who runs the highend French restaurant today. Her father Van Thuan, a Teochew Chinese entrepreneur from Takeo Province who became one of Cambodia’s leading industrialists during the 1950s and 1960s, bought the building in 1965 directly from the Bank of Indochina and used it as his business headquarters and family residence. Now after the years of war, eight of the nine children of Van Thuan and his wife Ta Nguyet Trinh, who spent the best parts of their childhoods in that classic icon of French architecture, are back in Cambodia. The youngest, Porleng, has been actively involved in the building’s restoration since her brother, Van Sou Ieng, did the work to get the old bank building back into the Van family’s possession. She took time earlier this week to talk about her family,
the restoration of the old Bank of Indochina and the relationship between the past and the future. “We have Chinese blood,” she said. Her grandfather took two of his sons, including Porleng’s father, to China for education. “When Mao started to take over China my grandfather came back with two sons. My father grew up here very poor and started as an artist, going
Van Thuan and wife Ta Nguyet Trinh
door to door asking people if they wanted a portrait or a landscape. Later he became a trader in dry fish, and started to make more money. Then he started a silk weaving factory with a partner.” Like many of the other Teochew Chinese families in Cambodia, the Vans have always been involved
in business. Growing wealthier with his Chip Tong sandal factory, Van was able to purchase the Bank of Indochina building in 1965. His family grew up in the old Bank of Indochina, including his youngest daughter, Porleng, who has since worked to restore what had been the family home and turn it into one of Phnom Penh’s finest French restaurants. All of the family members left Cambodia during the 1970s, staying in France, England and Hong Kong. Since they returned during the 1990s some of the family possessions have been restored, including their father’s old Chip Tong sandal factory in Tuol Kork which once again serves as a factory, this time for clothing and is now managed by Porleng’s sister Porphin. Porleng Van credits her mother and brothers Van Sou Ieng and Van Tuon with leading the family back to Cambodia during the 1980s. “I think the sense of family we have is from my mum,” she said. “We were very lucky to have escaped from the war. Our family was split apart during the 1970s and there was always a big desire in all of us to reconnect with
Cambodia,” she said. Once her mother declared Cambodia safe once again, the family started to return. Porleng Van made two trips to Cambodia, before returning to stay in 2003. “My mother and my brother met one of the officials who knew her and found out it might be possible to get our family buildings back,” she said. Her brother Van Sou Ieng made the deal to get the building back. It had been in the possession of the National Bank of Cambodia. It was Porleng’s idea to have a fine French restaurant which she opened in December 2007. “Now six years later we are going well,” she said. “We have our name and they know it is very good quality with a certain atmosphere. I opened a French restaurant because this building was from the French people and we love French food too. This is also an architectural and cultural preservation.” The main dining room in use at Van’s French restaurant was both the dining room for the Governor of the Bank of Indochina and the family dining room for the Van’s. She found it challenging to take on the building’s
General Manager of Van’s Restaurant, Porleng Van
restoration which began in March 2004 and lasted for 10 months. “I always love old buildings that have history so my priority was to do it well and keep it respectable for the style and history. Once I finished I brought my mom in and I realised it meant a lot to her. When she came in she had tears in her eyes, it was beautiful, she remember each room and what she used to do in there,” she said. “I found satisfaction in the restoration. I did it for the building itself and history, and the passion we have for our French education and culture. I hope people will realise that preserve any old building is a treasure for the future. When we knock down
a building we knock down our own history,” she said. “I would like this building to be recognised internationally and to be protected from knocking down. I would like this building to stay in the history.” One third of the building is in use as Van’s restaurant while the other parts are the offices of Asia Insurance and AFD, the French agency of development. In addition to serving as General Manager of Van’s Restaurant, Porleng Van also serves as President of The Cambodia Restaurant Association ( CRA) and Vice President for Asia of The International Food and Beverage Association.
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THE PHNOM PENH POST • JUNE 14, 2013 www.phnompenhpost.com
World Heritage Cambodia
Angkor Wat: equated with the quintessence of Angkor, before and beyond Jean-Michel Filippi
I
n September 1862, when Cambodia was not yet under the French protectorate rule, Admiral Bonnard went to Udong - at that time King Norodom I’s capital - and then to Siem Reap. This was the first time that a high ranking French official wrote a report on the famous ruins that we now know as Angkor. Bonnard wrote: “Legend, history and religion of this vanished people are here, showed to the eyes of the skeptic who won’t be able anymore to deny that today’s poverty-stricken Cambodia could once and can still feed a great artistic and industrious people”. What has to be remembered from Bonnard’s words are: the vanished people, the povertystricken Cambodia and the great artistic people. The next coming Angkorian adventure was already in embryo. At that time, as France intended to extend its influence in the region far beyond its small Cochinchina colony, the Protectorate regime (1863 - 1953) over Cambodia was soon going to be a reality. A few months later, it was
Admiral de la Grandière’s turn to come to Siem Reap. Admiral de la Grandière was the military Governor of Cochinchina (the first French colony in the Far East). That was the opportunity used to first officialize the “great ruins.” It has to be noted that the Angkor temples were still at that time on Siamese territory and were only going to be retro-ceded to Cambodia in 1907. De La Grandière quietly visited the ruins as if they were part of Cambodian territory. Anecdotally, the French journalist from the newspaper Le Courrier de Saigon created confusion by mistakenly writing of “mines” instead of “ruins”(the two words rhyme in French). A biting answer was to come from a Singapore English language newspaper which worried about the
French ambitions in such a rich region. This was all the more surprising since there never were any mineral mines in the region! In any case, the horse had well and truly bolted. For the highest glory of Angkor After the 15th century in Cambodia, if Angkor was considered by the Khmers living in its neighbourhood as an important religious site, it was certainly not viewed as a symbol of national pride. Almost immediately after the establishment of the protectorate regime (1863 - 1953), Angkor was to epitomise the official vision of Cambodian history as stated, for example, by Penny Edwards: “Angkor was remade as both the embodiment of Khmer national essence and an irretrievable, unachievable, and impossible moment of cultural perfection”. For the French protectorate, what was at stake was no less than providing the Kingdom of Cambodia with a new ideological structure of which Angkor Wat would be the key element. From then on, Cambodian history would have to consist of a two-part narrative: past glory and present decay: Angkor Wat as the symbol of
greatness par excellence and decadence. The French Protectorate for its part was only too eager in volunteering to help Cambodia recover its ancient greatness. Without oversimplifying, the deal may be expressed in the following way: Angkor Wat was the proof Cambodia had a once glorious history followed by a terrible decline. The French Protectorate was there to help Cambodians recover their past glory. The proof of noble French intentions could be seen in the fact that France rediscovered Angkor Wat and was restoring it. Everything was planned and not even the smallest detail was neglected. For instance the “discoverer” of Angkor was in reality father Bouillevaux at around 1850, at least 10 years before Henri Mouhot. Bouillevaux even
Angkor Wat at sunrise: the world’s largest Hindu temple, even larger than any Hindu temple in India.
published about Angkor in 1858 in his “Voyage dans l’indochine 1848 – 1856”. Unfortunately, Father Bouillevaux was not such an exciting writer and his words did not come easily. Bouillevaux was invited by the French Superior Resident and was politely but firmly asked to forget his “discovery”. From then on, Angkor would officially have been discovered by Mouhot. The colonial exhibitions of Marseille (1924) and Paris (1931) played considerable roles and according to Penny Edwards: “In addition to proclaiming France’s dominance in Indochina, and the vigor and valor of France’s conservation efforts vis-à-vis the stasis of indigenous races, Angkor acted as a crucial signifier of Khmer difference. France’s projection of Angkor Vat [sic] as the key emblem of Indochina fostered Khmer national pride and aroused Vietnamese indignation” And it worked beyond all expectations. For more than a century, Angkor Wat has been beyond any reasonable doubt equated with the quintessence of Cambodian culture. All the Cambodian regimes that followed independence from France in 1953 tried hard to define adequate stylised representations of Angkor Wat on their various flags, not to mention the Khmer Rouge who went even further by mentioning Angkor Wat in their national Anthem. The same way in which colonial ideology depicted Cambodian history was adopted by Khmer nationalist scholars of the Buddhist Institute and the newspaper Nagaravatta in the 1930s without the slightest hesitation. This common representation of Cambodia in greatness and decline still plays the part of a prerequisite to any discussion about Cambodian history to this day. Behind the mythical towers: Cambodian history The chronology of Cambodian history itself is more a chrono-ideology with a pivotal role offered to Angkor. Thus we have a syndrome in the authoring of history in which Angkor is seen in its relation to pre-
Angkor and post-Angkor. The result is often comical: in many books, the pre and post Angkorian periods consist of only a few pages, while the core of the book is of course about Angkor. An example taken at random comes from the book “Les Khmers” (The Khmers) by Bruno Dagens. “Les Khmers” is in fact an interesting and well documented introduction to Angkor, but not to the Khmer people. As we close the book we wonder if there were Khmers before and after Angkor. Cambodian people need history; they don’t need to hear that they belong to a people who were once great, but by a strange law of nature, were afterwards reduced to decadence. This tendency to reduce Cambodian history to a series of Angkorian certainties really weakens not only Cambodian history, but also its teaching and the lessons which could be learnt from it. As an ethnic group, the Khmers didn’t wait for Angkor to exist; they are, in fact, amongst the first inhabitants of the Southeast Asian Peninsula. If we analyse the current ethno-linguistic map of the Southeast Asian Peninsular, we can notice one essential fact: the various languages pertaining to the Austro Asiatic linguistic group, of which Khmer is a major member, display a compact distribution from South Yunnan to Central Malaysia and from Eastern India to the South China Sea. On the other side the presence of the other ethno linguistic components in the area can be dated to around the 8th century BC for the Cham and around the 10th century AD for the Thai. The data indicates that the Khmer were amongst the first to be here. To this fact should be added another one. The Khmer language exerted an incredible influence on the neighboring languages. For instance, according to Professor Uraisi Varasarin a considerable part of the modern Thai lexicon comes from Khmer. She could extract more than 2,500 words and classify them into 200
semantic categories. It shows that almost all the fields of the Thai lexicon were influenced by Khmer language. Other more distant languages are also filled with Khmer words, amongst others Nyah Kur, a Mon language spoken in what is today Central Eastern Thailand. Another example is Thavung, an Austro Asiatic language spoken in Northeast Laos. A language doesn’t borrow words for the mere sake of borrowing them, but techniques were borrowed along with the words and this mere fact reveals the influence Khmer civilization exerted in the peninsula. Even the question of the language spoken in the Kingdom of Funan (1st – 7th century AD) or the very nature of that civilization is all but too obvious. This is a part of Khmer national heritage that should not be overlooked at a time when history has been mobilized in the region to back the most questionable thesis. Sculpture in transition Angkor was but one moment of the Khmer civilization. To be convinced of it, you just need to indulge yourself with a little visit to the National Museum in Phnom
Balarama from the second half of the 6th century
Penh. The building itself is not entirely Angkorian. Georges Groslier, who completed it in 1920, based its architecture on the combination of two stylistic conceptions: the base is definitely Angkorian, that is heavy and with square columns, whereas the top is intended to make use of Buddhist motives, just like the ones we can find on the roof of any Theravada Buddhist pagoda. The result is astonishing as this pagodastyle roof lightens the whole structure and provides one with the impression of floating. The museum was built to shelter innumerable objects of art because Cambodia is by far the most important archeological site of the region. These objects of art were found continuously almost everywhere in the country. But the decision to
Vishnu, kulen style, early 9th century
build the National Museum was finally taken after the March, 1907 treaty when Siam retro-ceded Siem Reap Province with all the Angkor temples, to Cambodia. Most of the visitors, Khmer or foreign, know Angkor and are, for the most part, prone to associate Khmer civilization with Angkor. However, you get a big surprise when you realise that the differences between the statues that were carved before and after 802 AD. Statues in Phnom Da from the second half of the sixth century and those of Isanapura, also known as Sambor Prey Kuk, 615 – 635 stands in stark contrast with the first statues of Vishnu sculpted after the capital had been transferred to the Angkor region by King Jayavarman II in 802 AD. Phnom Da and Sambor Prey Kuk displayed a set of very human characters with a very refined and precise anatomical conception. They all express motion and allow a dynamic interaction with the surrounding space. One fundamental aspect is the swaying at the level of the hips, to the right or to the left, because it allows the drawing of a diagonal line that corresponds with the orientation of the other parts of the body: feet, knees, shoulders and head - somewhat like the part the
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World Heritage Cambodia
Cambodian culture for more than a century chiasmus played in Greek sculpture. This stands in contrast with what happens to Khmer statues by the beginning of the 9th century. The swaying is henceforth a mere formal feature reduced to the hips and no longer contributes to the general structure of the statue. These statues are characterised by stiffness: no more anatomical precision, no more motion. Ironically, Western art followed exactly the opposite path: from hieratic stiffness to the expression of life and motion. The reasons for these considerable variations over time are numerous: the fact has been often evoked that the statuary is the most politically sensitive part of Khmer art. The carving of stiffer statues often corresponds with a political tendency to centralise power. The problem does not lie in what should be preferred; it is a mere question of taste and there is no universally acknowledged objective way of analysing artistic quality. The problem lies elsewhere: more than two centuries before the capital settled in the Angkor region, the artists of two Cambodian kingdoms, in the South and in the Northwest, were able to give birth to statues of an almost unrivalled quality in Southeast Asia. Again and again, it appears that there is more than one door leading to Khmer
Jayavarman VII
civilization. The unity of Angkor In a somewhat popular approach to Khmer history, the term unity has acquired a
Mahayana Buddha worshipped by Brahma and Shiva. Early 13th century. Photograph courtesy of Ms Ngin Phalika
considerable importance as the Angkorian period is very often presented by Khmer people as the time of unity par excellence. That time is very seriously seen as a kind of lost paradise yet untarnished by personal rivalries, where the common good was supposed to prevail over the tyranny of individual ambitions. Every culture generates its own mythology and, as we all know, the myths always die hard. Instead of talking of unity between people, we may seriously question the accuracy of the unity of the so-called Angkorian period. The Angkorian period or Angkorian Empire are general terms used to talk about the period between 802 AD, the time Jayavarman II settled his capital in the Angkor region, and 1431, the time when the kingdom was invaded by the Siamese army and King Ponhea Yat fled westward to settle his new capital. During this period of more than six centuries there were as many changes as there were between the so-called Angkorian period and the pre 802 or post 1431 periods. The only expression of unity pertained to geography: the Angkor region where the capitals stood during this period. This assertion can even be further challenged
if we consider that Koh Ker, Jayavarman IV’s capital from 930 to 944 AD, was located more than 80 miles from the modern day city of Siem Reap. It is, for instance, impossible to reduce to unity the remarkable diversity of styles in the Angkor region: let’s think that in the 10th century, only 23 years separate the gigantism of the Koh Ker pyramid from the intimacy of Banteay Srey. One big problem pertains to the reign of Jayavarman VII. This king has an uncommon proclivity to controversy. One of his best known statues represents a bare forehead, a broad and opened face with the eyes reduced to the line of the eyelids: an overall equilibrium and harmony which suggest quietness and inner joy. That would make us easily forget that Jayavarman VII was one of the most formidable conquerors and that under his reign the Khmer Empire reached its greatest dimensions. An essential event occurred in 1177. The Cham fleet sailed up the Mekong River, the Tonle Sap and the Siem Reap River. The Cham troops landed, attacked and plundered Angkor. The reaction was very quick. The subsequent Jayavarman VII counterattacked defeated the Cham invaders and he was crowned
as king in 1181. From the time he was crowned, Mahayana Buddhism became the official religion of the Khmer Empire. Beside the numerous statues of the Buddha meditating on the Naga, at the same time statues of the former Hindu gods were erected. Thus, with the shift from Hinduism to Buddhism, the axis of the world was no longer Angkor Wat but had also shifted to Bayon. This has to be explained and it is not difficulty to find a version of the standard explanation in M. Giteau’s “Histoire d’Angkor”: “By seizing Angkor, the Cham had brought proof that the town was not invulnerable, even if it was an earthly representation of the divine world. There was therefore a necessity to find a superior protection”. Such an observation preserves the thesis of unity, reasoning that our beliefs were proven wrong, so let’s find another religion which could act as a better shelter, and move on. The reality is certainly something else. On the one hand, if Hinduism had been until then the official religion of the empire, there are many doubts to express about its ascendancy on
a concentration of people presupposes the emergence of various social needs the Hindu religion would have certainly not been able to fulfill. In any case, it is difficult to keep the thesis of unity between a power system and the people. The most fascinating thing is that numerous authors couldn’t and still can’t admit that a totally new conception was at work. It is incredible to read what Maurice Glaize wrote about the Bayon: “The Bayon is the only temple to have two concentric galleries sculpted with bas-reliefs; the internal gallery is complete in its ornamentation and was almost exclusively reserved for mythological subjects of Brahmanic inspiration, while the outer gallery, accessible to the mass of the faithful, was dedicated both to scenes of everyday life and to certain historic episodes processions and battles - from the reign of Jayavarman VII”. We would be very pleased to know where exactly are the “mythological subjects of Brahmanic inspiration.” Glaize, and he is far from being alone, acts as if it was impossible to escape from the hypnotic power of Angkor Wat Hinduism. The most comprehensive
Angkor as myth or history? Angkor Wat is an architectural masterpiece of harmony and the biggest Hindu temple in the world, India included. More than that, the very notion of a mountain temple is based on Hindu conceptions, but the mountain temples only materialised in Cambodia: Angkor Wat and Baphuon, not temples in India. Bruno Dagens had noted earlier that if the iconographic program is Indian, its translation into reality is Khmer and for that reason “Khmer temples are more Indian than Indian temples.” On the other side, between the Indian iconography and the Khmer artist’s chisel there is a considerable distance which may explain that even in the earliest statues, the representation of Vishnu’s or Shiva’s face is very remote from the Indian codes. The question of religion is equally important. Khmer civilization is the only one in peninsular Southeast Asia to have sequentially experienced Hinduism, Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism as state religions and to have integrated them in a more popular religious approach. This leads us to an essential point: Angkor and Angkor Wat in particular do not transcend Khmer civilization.
and fascinating survey of the internal gallery of the Bayon has been realised by Ms Phalika Ngin and is available on her website www.phalikan. com or will be soon available in her book: “The Ancient Secrets of a Royal Triad Decoded”.
On the contrary, Angkor is but one moment of this cultural adventure which existed before 802 and did not stop in 1431. It is high time to construct a Cambodian history which pays homage to the extraordinary richness and diversity of the Khmer land.
The Baphuon Drawing by Fournereau
the people because it had no real clergy. Everything indicates that the people’s religion had for many years been Mahayana Buddhist. Moreover, at the end of the 12th century, the population of Angkor is estimated to have reached one million and such
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World Heritage Cambodia
Frequently asked questions about the 37th session of the World Heritage Committee What is World Heritage? World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy. Places as diverse and unique as the Pyramids of Egypt, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the Galápagos Islands in Ecuador, the Taj Mahal in India, the Grand Canyon in the USA, the Acropolis in Greece or Angkor in Cambodia are examples of the 962 natural and cultural places inscribed on the World Heritage List to date. What does it mean for a property to be inscribed on the list? There are many positive impacts: National and potential World Heritage listing provides national and international recognition for the region. Listing can also cultivate local and national pride and motivation to acknowledge and protect the values. Once a country signs the convention, and has properties (previously
termed “sites”) inscribed on the World Heritage List, the resulting prestige often helps raise awareness among citizens and governments for heritage preservation. Greater awareness leads to a general rise in the level of the protection and conservation given to heritage properties. A country may also receive financial assistance and expert advice from the World Heritage Committee to support activities for the preservation of its properties. What is the 1972 Convention? The Convention Concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage is an international agreement that was adopted by the General Conference of UNESCO on 16 November 1972 and entered into force on 17 December 1975. What does the convention stipulate? The convention defines the kind of natural or cultural properties which can be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List. The convention sets out the duties of States Parties in identifying potential
properties and their role in protecting and preserving them. By signing the convention, each country pledges to conserve not only the World Heritage properties situated on its territory, but also to protect its national heritage. The States Parties are encouraged to integrate the protection of the cultural and natural heritage into regional planning programs, set up staff and services at their properties, undertake scientific and technical conservation research and adopt measures which give this heritage a function in the day-to-day life of the community. What are the benefits of ratification? The overarching benefit of ratifying the World Heritage Convention is that of belonging to an international community of appreciation and concern for universally significant properties that embody a world of outstanding examples of cultural diversity and natural wealth. The States Parties to the Convention, by joining hands to protect and cherish the world’s natural and cultural heritage, express
a shared commitment to preserving our legacy for future generations. A key benefit of ratification, particularly for developing countries, is access to the World Heritage Fund. Annually, about US$4 million is made available to assist States Parties in identifying, preserving and promoting World Heritage properties. Emergency assistance may also be made available for urgent action to repair damage caused by human-made or natural disasters. In the case of properties included on the List of World Heritage in Danger, the attention and the funds of both the national and the international community are focused on the conservation needs of these particularly threatened properties. What are States Parties? States Parties are countries which have adhered to the World Heritage Convention. They thereby agree to identify and nominate properties on their national territory to be considered for inscription on the World Heritage List. State Parties nominate a
Previous sessions of the World Heritage Committee 37COM Phnom Penh, Cambodia (2013) 18COM Phuket, Thailand (1994) 36COM Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation (2012) 17COM Cartagena, Colombia (1993) 35COM Paris, France (2011) 16COM Santa Fe, USA (1992) 34COM Brasília, Brazil (2010)
15COM Carthage, Tunisia (1991)
33COM Sevilla, Spain (2009)
14COM Banff, Canada (1990)
32COM Quebec City, Canada (2008) 31COM Christchurch, New-Zealand (2007)
13COM Paris, France (1989) 12COM Brasilia, Brazil (1988)
30COM Vilnius, Lithuania (2006)
11COM Paris, France (1987)
29COM Durban, South Africa (2005) 28COM Suzhou, China (2004)
10COM Paris, France (1986) 09COM Paris, France (1985)
27COM Paris, France (2003)
08COM Buenos Aires, Argentina (1984)
26COM Budapest, Hungary (2002)
07COM Florence, Italy (1983)
25COM Helsinki, Finland (2001)
06COM Paris, France (1982)
24COM Cairns, Australia (2000)
05COM Sydney, Australia (1981)
23COM Marrakesh, Morocco (1999)
04COM Paris, France (1980)
22COM Kyoto, Japan (1998)
03COM Luxor, Egypt (1979)
21COM Naples, Italy (1997) 20COM Mérida, Mexico (1996)
02COM Washington, D.C (1978) 01COM Paris, France (1977)
19COM Berlin, Germany (1995)
property, it gives details of how a property is protected and provides a management plan for its upkeep. States Parties are obliged by the Convention to protect the World Heritage values of the properties inscribed and to report periodically on their condition. What are the legal implications of the Convention? The UNESCO World Heritage Convention is a treaty that has become, over the past 30 years, the foremost international legal tool in support of the conservation of the world’s cultural and natural heritage. Today, 187 countries (called States Parties) have ratified the
Convention, making it an almost universally accepted set of principles and framework of action. What about Intangible and Documentary Heritage? Alongside World Heritage, UNESCO recognises two other forms of heritage, namely intangible and documentary heritage. Intangible Heritage is recognised and managed under the 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage; Documentary Heritage is recognised and managed under the Memory of the World Programme. Cambodia is active in all three of UNESCO’s flagship heritage programs.
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World Heritage Cambodia
Lao people fastest-growing visitors to Kingdom Friendly smiles seen as greatest asset The President of the Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA), Ang Kim Eang, took time to answer questions with the Post’s Stuart Alan Becker about the importance of antiquities to Cambodia’s tourism industry and the trends in the composition of the people who visit Cambodia. How important is Cambodia’s hosting of the World Heritage Committee this year? I think this is very important and a good opportunity for the people and particularly for the tourism sector, not only from a cultural standpoint, but good for tourism. What are the most popular places for visitors to go in Cambodia? Angkor would be number one. About 30 per cent of visitors only visit Siem Reap. Where do directly flights to Siem Reap come from? Direct flights serve Siem Reap from Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Pakse, Vientiane, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Seoul and Guangzhou.
In addition to your presidency of CATA, you are also the CEO and President of Great Angkor Tours. What kind of tours do you offer? What are some popular durations and destinations? We offer classics like heritage tours. We are offering from three days to two weeks. Sometimes they start from the Lao border, sometimes they start from Siem Reap and sometimes they start from Phnom Penh. They could stay two nights in Phnom Penh, three or four nights in Siem Reap, perhaps two nights in Battambang and also Sihanoukville for two or three nights. Tours like that can cost roughly from $800 to $1,500. They normally travel by bus and the price depends on the number of people and the quality of the hotels. Where do people who visit Cambodia come from? Last year in the whole country, Vietnam was number one for visitors, China number two, Korea number three, Japan number 4 and five was
I am very positive about the growth of tourism in Cambodia. I’m sure it is going to keep growing and growing because the tourism sites in Cambodia are totally unique and are known internationally. Angkor temple is not only a world heritage site, but is also one of the seven ancient wonders of the world.
Ang Kim Eang, President, Cambodia Association of Travel Agents (CATA)
Lao people. The growth from Laos is jumping. France, UK and United States, are all within the top ten. From what countries do you see growth in visitor numbers? Laotians are growing the fastest, Vietnamese are number two, and Chinese number three. When you were a boy, you lived in a Khmer Rouge camp, and your father died of starvation. Now you’ve worked your way up, and you’re a father of two and you have a travel agency with ten people working for you. Doyou see a good future for Cambodia?
Where else do visitors mostly go? Angkor Wat, PreahVihear, Koh Ker in PreahVihear province, and Beng Mealea near Siem Reap, Banteay Chhmar in Banteay Meanchey near Siem Reap, Prasat Preah Khan, and Kampong Svay also in Preah Vihear Province. In Takeo they have very old temples from the sixth century, originally from the Angkor civilization. We also have natural heritage in the south of the country. Our visitors enjoy the beach at Sihanoukville, the top of the Bokor Mountain, the temples in the caves at Kampot and the 50,000 hectare mangrove reserve. We also have an eco-tourism site around the mountains between Koh Kong and Sihanoukville, as well as Kravanh which is near Sihanoukville. In Cambodia’s northeast, we have eco-tour-
ism in Mondulkiri, Ratanakiri, Stung Treng, and Kratie. Trips along the Mekong River from the Lao border to Kratie are particularly interesting and very beautiful. You can see the river dolphins. If you look at all these places, what are some of the highgrowth destinations? The beach at Sihanoukville and the northeast part of Cambodia are both fast-growing regions. In the northeast we still need a lot of infrastructure like hotels and restaurants. Battambang is also a growth area. The provinces surrounding the Tonle Sap are also growth areas. What are some of the challenges for Cambodia in the tourism industry? We need to improve the quality of our infrastructure. The quality of the roads needs to be improved. We need more long haul flights to Europe, to North America, to Australia, Japan. Right now Air Berlin has a nonstop service to Siem Reap. Qatar Airways has a direct flight toPhnom Penh. We wouldlike to see direct flights from India. China has many direct flights but we need more. Our tourism associations need to improve and I think we need stronger
promotions and more budget money from the government to promote Cambodia. What’s the importance of Cambodia’s heritage? Our heritage is one of the masterpieces of the world for all human beings to see. This was a great civilization and you can see evidence of that. Our ancient people who built these temples are still living in the shadow of the temples. At the pyramids the people nearby are newcomers, but we Cambodians are still here. What do you think is Cambodia’s greatest tourism asset? Without a doubt the Khmer people are very beautiful and they smile honestly and genuinely. This quality of people is very difficult to find. People in general are smiling and not just working in the tourism industry. You can find that easily in the countryside, along the river, along the street and even if they are riding a buffalo they will give you a beautiful smile. What stage of development is Cambodia in now? We are in the improving and growing stage. National development follows human social development.
THE PHNOM PENH POST • JUNE 14, 2013 www.phnompenhpost.com
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World Heritage Cambodia
Special “Heritage Menu” at Raffles P
hnom Penh’s historic Raffles Hotel Le Royal will start a special set menu program tomorrow, June 15 to coincide with the World Heritage Committee that runs through June 30 and features the original menu that was served to Jacqueline Kennedy when she visited Cambodia in 1967. For this historical occasion, the menu choice was assembled by the Royal Palace. The 1967 Jacqueline Kennedy heritage menu features Crème de Volaille, Rissoles au Foie Gras, Salade de Jardin, Médaillon de Bœuf aux Champignons Sauvages and Crème Renversée a la Vanille. Prices range from$89 exclusive of beverages, $134 inclusive of sommelier’s wine pairing selection and $115 including the book “A Life Dedicated to Cambodia”. Prices are subject to a service charge. The menu is available at Restaurant Le Royal from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm from June 15 to 30. Raffles Hotel Le Royal’s Elephant bar will also highlight its heritage cocktails selection giving
each glass a 50% per cent discount from 2 pm to 12 midnight. Creations include the “Femme Fatale” - a Champagne cocktail created in 1967 when Jacqueline Kennedy visited Cambodia; the “Airavata” – which is based on the legend of the white elephant with a mysterious concoction presented in a hand-made elephant grand tasse; the “Paris Sling” - created by Raffles Paris Le Royal Monceau, inspired by the original Singapore Sling cocktail with added French flair and a Parisian twist; and, not to be forgetten, the well known “Singapore Sling” which was a creation of Ngiam Tong Boon in 1915. Raffles gift shop Le Phnom is also offering a bundle of three books for $80 including the book “A Life Dedicated to Cambodia” that commemorates the life and times of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk; “When the War was Over” (1986) by Elizabeth Becker, a history of Cambodia and the Khmer Rouge, which includes a rare interview with Pol Pot, and has been critically acclaimed as one
of the most comprehensive books ever written on the Khmer Rouge Revolution, and “Cambodia’s Top Tables” featuring 52 of Cambodia’s top chefs who recreate their signature dishes. Raffles Hotel Le Royal executive chef Steve Van Remoortel’s Pheasant Brabanconne is featured and the authors are Clive Graham Ranger and chef Luu Meng. Raffles Hotel Le Royal General Manager Richard Schestak said the arrival of the World Heritage Committee presented an excellent opportunity to celebrate the hotel’s heritage and feature the culinary highlights of the hotel since its initial opening in 1929. Schestak, who has served as Raffles Hotel Le Royal’s General Manager for the last three years, was just appointed last week as the General Manager for the new, 200-room Raffles Hotel in Jakarta, which is scheduled to open in the first quarter of 2014. Schestak took the opportunity to express how much he has enjoyed his experience in Cambodia. “It has been a unique experience to live and work
in Phnom Penh, a market that is developing well whilst still maintaining its original “rawness” as an authentic Asian city. We have had the pleasure to host many dignitaries and I’m delighted about several enhancements we have achieved within the hotel including the refurbishment of all suites, rooms, ballroom and public areas. I’m very proud of the great achievements of my team and how everyone has developed and grown professionally. “The compactness of Phnom Penh enabled me to quickly meet many acquaintances within the business circles and diplomatic corps, but also to make personal friendships that will last into the future. Each market and each hotel has its unique idiosyncrasies which makes our business exciting and provides lifelong learning,” Schestak said. “Although we are very discreet about our guest list, we are proud that we continue to attract celebrities from all over the world who visit Phnom Penh. The reason these
Then
Now
guests stay with us is our presence of being an iconic heritage hotel carrying the Raffles brand, coupled with the charming and enchanting service our staff provides.” Schestak also likes to describe Raffles Hotel Le Royal as an “oasis” and colonial residence.
“Hotel Le Royal is more of a grand mansion than a hotel. That not only reflects the physical attributes, but it also reflects in the style our charming employees take care of our residents.” Schestak said a number of the World Heritage Committee delegations would be staying at Raffles.
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Wordl Heritage Cambodia
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