Court Upholds Charges Against Angkor Lighting Critic

Moeung Son (Photo: DAP-news)

Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh Tuesday, 24 May 2011

The Court of Appeals on Tuesday upheld a guilty verdict for a man accused of disinformation, following public remarks critical of a lighting project at Angkor Wat, but reduced the charges against him.

Moeung Sonn, who has fled the country, is facing a two-year prison sentence following a suit brought by the government in 2009. He had disseminated public remarks claiming the Apsara Authority was potentially damaging Angkor Wat by installing a lighting system around the temple.

Apsara officials denied the lights, which have since been taken down, posed a threat to the temple.

Moeung Sonn asked journalists to help him

Saturday, October 10, 2009
Everyday.com.kh
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

Moeung Sonn, President of the Khmer Civilization Foundation (KCF) who fled to live in France, sent emails to several local news media, asking them to help publish documents and letter he sent to Hun Xen. The content of Moeung Sonn’s letter to Hun Xen is to ask the latter to push for a new trial in his case. Moeung Sonn was sued by the government for misinformation and incitation because he talked about the installation of light bulbs to illuminate the Angkor Wat temple. Moeung Sonn expressed his confidence that if a new trial is conducted in his case, Judge Chhay Kong will rethink his case. Moeung Sonn also asked the journalists to cooperate with the KCF to call on Heng Samrin, the president of the National Assembly, to change Article 62 of the UNTAC era criminal code so that this article of the law will no longer be used to prevent the freedom of expression of Cambodians.

2-year jail sentence for Moeung Son and 15 million riels fine and damage compensation ($3,750) … just for protesting light installation in Angkor Wat

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
DAP-news
Translated from Khmer by Heng Soy

At 6:45PM on 14 July 2009, the judge of the Phnom Penh municipal announced the verdict for Moeung Son, Chairman of the Khmer Civilization Foundation (KCF), he is sentenced to 2-year in jail and fined 7 million riels ($1,750) and he must also pay 8 million riels ($2,000) to the Apsara authority. The court also ordered the authority to arrest him immediately after the announcement of his sentence for publishing false information and incitation perpetrated on 26 May 2009.

During the court hearing, Sar Sok Kong, Moeung Son’s defense lawyer, was present but Choung Chou-ngy was not, and Pal Chandara, the government lawyer and also lawyer for the Apsara authority, was present. Judge Chhay Kong and Ek Chheng Huot, the representative of the prosecutor, were present during the hearing, as well as lawyers, the public and numerous reporters.

During the hearing, Moeung Son’s lawyer requested for a delay, claiming that his client could not yet find proofs or witnesses on time. However, the prosecutor claimed that the court can take care of this case and it would still be legal. That was why the hearing started since 2:30PM and the verdict was not announced until 6:45PM.

On 26 May 2009, the government and the Apsara authority sued Moeung Son of spreading false information and incitation on the case of the Su Ching company drilling rocks on the temple to install night lights in Angkor Wat temple. After hearing this information, the Apsara authority clarified to the government and the public that the installation of these lights does not affect the temple, but Moeung Son kept on publishing his incitation information still. For example, Moeung Son claimed that lights with more than 1,000-watt heat capacity can turn metal to black color, as if it was burnt. However, expert claims that these spot lights are only 4-watt, and they do not affect the temple stone. Furthermore, reporters can see that holes in the temple rocks were not newly dug, they were remnant from the past. In summary, both the government and the Apsara authority maintained the claim that Moeung Son spread false information and he created incitation to create upheaval all over the country and in the world. Therefore, his action cannot be forgiven. Following the sentence, Moeung Son’s lawyer yelled that the court is unfair.

Meoung Sonn fled to France after being sued for speaking out on Angkor Wat lighting controversial

President of KCF flees to France

Monday, 08 June 2009
Written by Chrann Chamroeun
The Phnom Penh Post

THE Khmer Civilisation Foundation president, Moeung Sonn, has fled to France to avoid arrest, he said, after the Cambodian government sued him for incitement and disinformation over his public accusations that the installation of new lights at Angkor Wat had damaged the temple.

"If I had not left Cambodia shortly after Thursday night, I would have been arrested and detained with a court warrant because the government was terribly angry with me," Moeung Sonn told the Post Saturday from France.

"I want to return to my country because I love my country forever," he added.

Last week, Moeung Sonn blamed local media for spreading the information before he made his accusations.

Lawyer Pal Chan Dara confirmed that on behalf of the Cambodian government, he had sued Moeung Sonn on June 2, and that he had been summoned by the Municipal Court for questioning.

"I will go to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on June 9 as scheduled to be questioned about my complaint against the president of KCF, Moeung Sonn," Pal Chan Dara told the Post.

Moeung Sonn accused the government of drilling holes into the temple walls to install light fixtures, a charge the government and the Apsara Authority deny, saying the recesses were already there.

Would You Be More Likely to Visit Angkor Wat if it was Illuminated At Night?

June 6, 2009
Jaunted (USA)

The 12th century temple complex known as Angkor Wat is by far the most popular tourist site in Cambodia, drawing a million travelers a year to walk among its austere columns and soaring spires, many of which are overgrown with tree roots that resemble the tentacles of an octopus. Hoping to wring a few more dollars out of tourists - and enhance the visitor experience, of course - the government recently announced that it is considering installing artificial lighting throughout the ancient city so the temples can be open at night. The AP points out that visitors are typically ushered out of the area at sunset, and the new lighting will enable the park to stay open as late as 8:30 p.m.

Conservationists, however, are less thrilled with the idea. They worry that the area's resources - particularly the already overtaxed underground water supply - aren't sufficient to support an influx of tourists, who will require roads, hotels, and all the other amenities that go along with the tourism industry.

I can see their point, and would be sure to tread as lightly as possible, but I kind of like the idea of seeing Angkor Wat at night. I imagine some of the statues, carvings, and shadows would be pretty amazing, particularly after happy hour. And hopefully they'd use really environmentally-friendly lighting, like LED lights, in a smart and innovative way, creating lots of trippy, dramatic angles. But I'd also hope they left most of the park undisturbed, all the better to retain its unique position at the nexus of natural and supernatural.

The dark side of Angkor's night visits

Thousands more tourists could pour into Angkor, damaging the 12th-century site (AP)

Plans to boost tourism by opening temple at night alarm conservationists

Saturday, 6 June 2009
By Andrew Buncombe, Asia correspondent
The Independent (UK)

The magical temples of Angkor – already visited by around half a million tourists a year – could lure even more people if the Cambodian authorities go ahead with a controversial plan to open the 12th-century complex into the night.

In an effort to boost tourism at the site, officials at Angkor say visiting hours could be extended and lighting provided to give visitors a different experience. "We want tourists to see all views of the temple, even in the dark places where they may have not have seen some of the sculptures and statues," said an official, Bun Narith.

The plan is just one proposal being considered by officials who are trying to counter the first slump in visitors to Angkor, which for a decade has experienced a boom. Recent figures show a 14 per cent drop in visitors to the town of Siem Reap, where Angkor is located, compared with last year. The authorities have also called on hotel owners to reduce their prices.

Foreign tourism is hugely important to Cambodia, reportedly providing up to 75 per cent of its foreign currency earnings. Around 50 per cent of all tourists to the country end up visiting the temple complex, six hours' drive north of the capital Phnom Penh.

But the issue of tourist numbers is complex. Conservationists warn that boosting the number of people visiting Angkor, without doing more to control them when they are at the site, could have a detrimental effect.

"Angkor is colossal but the problem is that there is very little control over the movement of tourists," said John Sanday, country officer with the Global Heritage Fund. "It can handle the number of people that are there if they are co-ordinated – perhaps with tickets."

Already, there has been controversy about the installation of lights at Angkor. This week officials were forced to deny reports from tourists that the building's structure had been damaged by the lights. "This accusation that new holes were created simply is not true," said Phay Siphan, spokesman for the Cambodian Council of Ministers. "The installation will not involve any new holes being drilled."

Ahmed Bennis, a French lighting expert who was commissioned to install the new lights, said there would be no structural alterations made. "These new lights will use solar power and they will not be built into the structure of the temple," he said. "Because the lights are powered by the sun there will be no electricity cables at the site."

Angkor was removed from Unesco's World Heritage in Danger list in 2004, but conservationists remain concerned for its welfare. Last year, Unesco raised concerns about the impact that the growth of Siem Reap was having on Angkor's foundations.

The UN organisation said that a surge in demand for water had led to a massive increase in the amount of groundwater being pumped. Philippe Delanghe, the culture programme specialist at Unesco's Phnom Penh office, said: "There is a very important balance between the sand and water on which the temple is built. And if that balance is taken away then we might have trouble with collapse."

Angkor is believed to have been built as a funerary temple for King Suryavarman II to honour the Hindu god Vishnu. The sandstone blocks from which it was constructed were quarried more than 30 miles away and floated down the Siem Reap river.

Under Hun Sen's regime, any criticism earns a govt lawsuit: Moeung Sonn is sued for his critical statement

Moeung Sonn (Photo: DAP news)

Government Files Suit Against NGO Chief

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
04 June 2009

The government has submitted a complaint of disinformation against the head of an NGO who has been critical of the authority that runs Angkor Wat.

The criminal suit against Moeung Sonn, head of the Foundation for the Support of Khmer Civilization, follows his critical statements against Apsara Authority.

Moeung Sonn recently held a press conference critical of an Apsara Authority project to light up Angkor Wat’s temples at night.

“The Apsara Authority and Unesco have told the public already that the light on th temples will not affect the temples, but Moeung Sonn is trying to make trouble against it,” government lawyer Phal Chandara said. “So that is why the government decided to sue him.”

Informed about the suit, Moeung Sonn said he was not worried.

“What I said about the lighting on Angkor Wat temple was because I am worried about the temple,” he said. “I didn’t mean to incite people.”

A love of Cambodian culture compelled him to protect the temples, he said.

The Apsara authority and Unesco have said the night lighting at the famed ancient temples will not hurt the structures. A joint Cambodian-Korean venture has been casting light on the temple since April.

Angkor Chok Chab - "Angkor hurt": A Poem in Khmer by Khemarak Botra

Click on the poem in Khmer to zoom in

Poem by Khemarak Botra

Angkor lights stir controversy

Lights are recessed into holes that tourism officials maintain were not drilled into the temple structure. (Photo Supplied)

Thursday, 28 May 2009
Written by Ros Dina
The Phnom Penh Post

A heritage specialist has requested intervention from the prime minister in a disagreement over light fixtures on temples at the Angkor Wat complex.

A HERITAGE advocate has sent a letter to Prime Minister Hun Sen urging him to stop an ongoing light installation project at the Angkor Wat temple, saying equipping the 11-century World Heritage site with lights will have a negative effect on its ambiance.

"The illumination will disturb tourists and badly affect the beauty of the temples. By the law of the Apsara Authority, even villagers are not allowed to build new houses in the Angkor area, but it is regrettable that the area is now equipped with lights," Moeung Son, president of the Khmer Civilisation Foundation Organisation (KCF), said at a press conference Tuesday.

The project, which began late last year, was designed to encourage "night lighting" tours and prolong the stay of tourists in the area.

However, Moeung Son said it would also fail to do that.

"According my experience in the tourism sector, cultural tourists never watch temples at night. They are particularly interested in Khmer ancient building styles."

Ho Vandy, head of the permanent committee of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents, also said that the lights would not increase tourist traffic to the site.

"Only about 20 or 30 tourists come to visit the temple or performances at night," Ho Vandy said.

Details of fixtures vague

Tourism officials have been vague about how the lights have been fixed to structures, saying they were put into "existing" holes in the temples.

The Ministry of Tourism and the Apsara Authority have maintained that the arrangement would help attract more visitors and consequently raise income in the tourism sector.

"I hope that the illumination will increase the number of tourists, and the Angkor Wat temple will become productive, bringing more income for Cambodia's economy. Moreover, the Angkor Wat area will look more active and lively," So Mara, a secretary of state at the Tourism Ministry, said Tuesday.

"Now we always tell visitors to get out when it's dark because we are afraid that they may fall down while walking in the dark. But when there are lights, visitors will have more time to walk around," he added.