The view across from Wat Ounalom, one of the historic sites of Phnom Penh. Heng Chivoan
The Phnom Penh Department of Culture and Fine Arts has said it has notified sub-national authorities regarding heritage buildings, archaeological sites and historical earthworks to be identified for protection.
Prime Minister Hun Sen, meanwhile, has urged the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction to continue registering historical sites with the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts.
With Phnom Penh undergoing rapid development, the director of the culture department, Chum Vuthy, has warned the capital is at risk of losing important heritage if registration is not promptly carried out.
“Phnom Penh risks losing important historical buildings if registration is not done in time, but the archaeological team at the culture department have given notification to all relevant districts and communes to identify such sites.
“The names and the locations have been submitted, and are being kept at each relevant commune and district,” Vuthy said.
According to the culture department director, the identification of historical structures has mostly taken place in Phnom Penh, particularly Daun Penh district, home to many important buildings from the past, notably the French colonial period.
Vuthy said previous discussions between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the Ministry of Environment had highlighted the capital’s Daun Penh district as of particular importance due to its position as the “birthplace” of Phnom Penh.
“Most of the capital’s heritage buildings are in Daun Penh district, with some in Chamkarmon. The origins of Phnom Penh begin by the river, so the majority of such buildings, especially those from French colonial period, are in these districts.
“The Phnom Penh Municipal Hall, as well as the culture ministry and department, are preparing to identify and certify all public and private buildings considered heritage.
“While we have already started, it has not yet been fully implemented,” Vuthy said.
Dangkor district contains a number of historical sites such as the Choeung Ek Killing Fields Museum” and excavations at Phum Moul village in Choeung Ek commune, which were carried out by the culture ministry.
These were carried out in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Cambodia, Ministry of Interior heritage protection officers, Phnom Penh Municipal Hall and archaeological officers.
However, the district to the south of Phnom Penh is undergoing rapid development, with the construction of infrastructure, gated community projects – known as borey – and commercial buildings.
Presiding over a ceremony of the land management ministry on December 27 last year, Hun Sen urged the ministry to expedite the registration of historical sites in collaboration with the culture ministry.
“We must continue to focus on the protection of heritage buildings and ensure the registration of protected areas with the culture ministry,” Hun Sen said.
Vuthy of the culture department spoke of the importance of preserving all Cambodia’s places of historical interest.
“The registration and protection of heritage areas is very important because these also include important archaeological hillocks and earthworks, ancient sites that are found all over the country, and not just the historical buildings of Phnom Penh,” he said.
