Ground digging for the Camshin telephone antenna, next to an ancient temple seen in the background (Photo: Rithisen, Koh Santepheap newspaper)15 March 2008
By Sok Serey
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The ministry of culture and fine arts had ordered the local authority in Kampong Chhnang to stop the construction of an antenna tower by the Camshin (area code 011, the full name of the company is Cambodia Shinawatra Company Ltd. belonging to the former Thai PM Thaksin Shinawatra) telephone company, and to cancel all contract for this construction when the digging to pour the antenna foundation, located next to an ancient temple, the foundation of an ancient temple was discovered in the underground. This foundation is estimated to be between the 6th and 8th century, therefore older than the Angkor period.
A source indicated that the temple foundation was that of Prasat Pros and Prasat Srey Temples (Man and Woman Temples), located next to the Wat Kampong Preah pagoda, Chhnok Trou commune, Boribo district, Kampong Chhnang province.
Khim Sarith, the secretary of state of the Ministry of culture and fine arts, told RFA on Saturday: “Now, we stop everything. Nevertheless, we will not give the authorization to build (the telephone antenna), this (case) involves the commune chief, and the ministry of public works also. But, I know that this is the foundation of an ancient temple, therefore, it is a national treasure, this means that it belongs to all of us.”
Regarding the issue above, Samrith Pheng, the Chhnok Trou commune chief, whom the government plans to call in for questioning because he was involved in signing the authorization for the construction of this telephone antenna, said that the plan to build the antenna has been completely aborted by the end of last week. “Yes, all activities have stopped since the 7th (of March), I told them to stop all work after we learn about this. It will be canceled.”
A source indicated that an Achar (religious laymen), who is a member of the Wat Kampong Preah committee, was arrested by the local authority for questioning, after a NGO and local people complained that he allowed the work done by the telephone company, and he sold our national treasure and heritage, but this source is not certain whether this Achar was released back yet or not.
At the same time, there is a movement to collect the public thumbprints (signatures) to support a petition to prevent the arrest of those involved in this case.
No comment was provided by the Thai-owned Camshin company representative regarding the stopping of the antenna construction on top of an ancient temple.
A local witness living in Chhnok Trou commune told RFA about the foundation of this ancient temple which he never seen something like this before: “It is made out of rock, this rock dated from before the Angkor period, in the underground. We didn’t know what it was, but it was a piece of rock that was discovered. I am more than 40-year-old, I never seen this before. There were people inspecting it, I asked them, they said that this rock dated from the 6th century. This foundation is that of Prasat Srey and Prasat Pros who are next to each other.”
Regarding the concern that looters may come and dig the foundation to sell, the Ministry of culture and fine arts indicated that it ordered the local authorities from Kampong Chhnang province to protect this ancient foundation.
A source indicated that the temple foundation was that of Prasat Pros and Prasat Srey Temples (Man and Woman Temples), located next to the Wat Kampong Preah pagoda, Chhnok Trou commune, Boribo district, Kampong Chhnang province.
Khim Sarith, the secretary of state of the Ministry of culture and fine arts, told RFA on Saturday: “Now, we stop everything. Nevertheless, we will not give the authorization to build (the telephone antenna), this (case) involves the commune chief, and the ministry of public works also. But, I know that this is the foundation of an ancient temple, therefore, it is a national treasure, this means that it belongs to all of us.”
Regarding the issue above, Samrith Pheng, the Chhnok Trou commune chief, whom the government plans to call in for questioning because he was involved in signing the authorization for the construction of this telephone antenna, said that the plan to build the antenna has been completely aborted by the end of last week. “Yes, all activities have stopped since the 7th (of March), I told them to stop all work after we learn about this. It will be canceled.”
A source indicated that an Achar (religious laymen), who is a member of the Wat Kampong Preah committee, was arrested by the local authority for questioning, after a NGO and local people complained that he allowed the work done by the telephone company, and he sold our national treasure and heritage, but this source is not certain whether this Achar was released back yet or not.
At the same time, there is a movement to collect the public thumbprints (signatures) to support a petition to prevent the arrest of those involved in this case.
No comment was provided by the Thai-owned Camshin company representative regarding the stopping of the antenna construction on top of an ancient temple.
A local witness living in Chhnok Trou commune told RFA about the foundation of this ancient temple which he never seen something like this before: “It is made out of rock, this rock dated from before the Angkor period, in the underground. We didn’t know what it was, but it was a piece of rock that was discovered. I am more than 40-year-old, I never seen this before. There were people inspecting it, I asked them, they said that this rock dated from the 6th century. This foundation is that of Prasat Srey and Prasat Pros who are next to each other.”
Regarding the concern that looters may come and dig the foundation to sell, the Ministry of culture and fine arts indicated that it ordered the local authorities from Kampong Chhnang province to protect this ancient foundation.
12 comments:
We need new antenna. Just move it 1km from the site. There is no need to stop development.
OMG, we never going to get out of poverty that way.
no worry. CPP maybe corrupt but it also appreciate its own culture. Its going to move a the antenna.
The Corruptedly Poisonous Party (CPP) will do evrything to destroy the National Heritage for as long as Ah Kwak is still in power. This blind leader cannot tell the difference between the a rock and the national treasure because his eyes and ears are blocked with $$$$.
What corrupted? This is not Planet of the Ape, you know?
I will stop using 011 when I get back to Cambodia, coz this one exploit Khmer culture and heritage. You operate for your benefit while you exploit all Khmer heritage. NO MORE 011 Camshin!
That's fine by us. We ain't gonna stop development for no idiot and allowed our poor people to continue to be victimized by the rising inflation.
you just have a say "FUCK" not about what temple means to you fucked!
Mee too i never use this fucking bitch thai company 011. Get lost fucking siam.
After polpot we are 100 years behind Viet and Thai! They both have satelite we does'nt has infrared!
Do not allow them to own too large of our land until we have some kind of knowledge of our underground!
It sounds fishy here, Khmer Prasat and Thai company. Why the antenna has to be next to the temple? Is there something in the grown that is more interested to them. The combination of illitaracy and $ makes them blind. I call on the Cambodian government to give a harsh punishment to the master minder.
hello! don't be so surprised as cambodia is so rich in the ancient khmer ruins all over cambodia. so i'm not a bit surprise even if they find ancient ruins in every square miles of land in cambodia. remember the khmer empire, so vast when compared to cambodia's today. so one will stumble into a lot more khmer ruins everywhere they dig, literally. khmer were the master builders in those days! welcome to cambodia!
That is what I said long ago also when we were talking about digging for artifacts and sell it to the Museum to help attract tourist here. It is a great cash business for everyone.
Post a Comment