At the closing ceremony of the 2024 Culture and Fine Arts Work Results and 2025 Goals Conference in Phnom Penh on Thursday, Ms. Phoeung Sakona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, warned of administrative penalties for relevant officials who allow the destruction of ancient structures or buildings.
She stated that in the past, there have been demolitions of ancient structures or buildings that violated the law.
She said that in cases of demolition of ancient structures or buildings, only those structures are too old because of concerns about their impact on people.
She stated that sometimes there is pressure from one party to the point of destruction, but sometimes one wants to follow suit, so these demolitions show a lack of gratitude to the ancestors who built those structures.
She added that as cultural figures, the issue of gratitude to ancestors is important for all relevant officials. Officials serving in the cultural sector must know and pay high attention to protecting, preserving, conserving and promoting culture, traditions and national heritage cultural assets.
The minister warned that officials under the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts who allow the demolition of ancient structures or buildings will face administrative penalties and be listed in historical documents as failing to protect ancient architecture.
Ms. Phoeung Sakona stated: “I can’t help either. That is an administrative procedure for penalties, which must be listed in historical documents as not fulfilling the work and protecting sufficiently. If protection is still not possible, then it is hopeless. Some places are not protected at all. Please refer to each unit for protection.”
The Khmer Times was unable to request further clarification from Mr. Sum Mab, spokesman for the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, yesterday.
Venerable Khim Son, the Phnom Penh Preah Mekun and head of the Secretariat of the Sangha Committee, said that for ancient structures or buildings, khodi or preah, whether inside or outside the pagoda, which are old or considered national heritage, relevant ministries and institutions should publicize and register them properly to avoid any destruction.
His Holiness requested that relevant ministries and institutions, especially the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, examine and study the age of each old structure in order to inform relevant parties about the ancient structures or buildings within their jurisdiction.
Mr. You Sophea, a professor of Khmer Civilization and Culture at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that if ancient structures are related to historical events or have cultural characteristics, even if the structures are not yet considered national heritage, they must be well maintained, protected, and conserved because those ancient structures can be cultural or historical monuments.
In 2022, three ancient pagodas (Nos. 43, 44, and 45) built in the 1930s in the vicinity of Wat Unnalom were demolished. At the same time, ancient structures were also demolished at Wat Pothiprek, Kampong Cham province.
In 2021, former Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a circular on preventing the demolition and destruction of heritage buildings. The circular states that all heritage buildings that will be repaired, modified or demolished must first request an examination and decision from the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and relevant authorities.
The circular states that in order to preserve the urban heritage area, which includes various religious buildings, public buildings, private buildings, villages and ancient houses, it is prohibited to modify, change the external appearance or damage the aesthetics of the buildings in the urban heritage area.
The circular adds that the prevention of demolition and destruction of cultural, historical, ancient and heritage buildings is carried out to protect them, especially to stop the destruction of heritage buildings in and outside the protected area, which focuses on strategies, policies and indicative maps to promote conservation and sustainable development.
