UNESCO and the Ministry of Cultural have begun preservation on Banteay Chmar temple

in the north west of Cambodia.

Banteay Chmar is currently listed in the world's 100 most endangered sites by "World

Monument Watch". In recent times the temple has been ravaged by thieves who

have smuggled many carvings and wall sections to antiquity dealers in Thailand.

The first part of the preservation and protection program has been the clearing of

dangerous vegetation, installation of rubbish bins, the storing of an important carving

at the Angkor Conservation Office, and an electric generator has been offered to

the local authorities to enable security lighting to operate at night.

Next month the second part of the project will get under way and will involve stationing

100 soldiers at the site to protect it from looters.