A lesson for the current government leaders: The sacred principle of the indivisibility of a country's territorial unity

Top photo: On 04 January 1962, Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Cambodia Head of State, led a large pilgrimage to the recovered National Sanctuary.
Middle photo: The prince smiling at his arrival to the temple
Bottom photo: A delegation of Khmer-Islam joined the pilgrimage

Left Photo: The Head of State with the diplomatic corps
Right Photos: Two pilgrims, a learned monk and an old farmer

Translated from French by Luc Sâr

Sangkum Reastr Niyum Souvenir (1962-1963)

Preah Vihear

National pilgrimage to Preah Vihear

In a speech given at Cheam Khsan, at the foothill of Phreah Vihear, Prince Sihanouk underscored the (significant) meaning that Cambodia gives to the “Preah Vihear affair”: “This is about a sacred principle: that of the indivisibility of the territorial unity of a country. No country in the world would renounce this principle.”

Reminding about the (territorial) amputation that Cambodia suffered during several centuries through the imperialism of her neighbors, the Head of State declared: “If today, we yield again to their pressures (by the Thai and the Vietnamese), we will condemn ourselves to our own death and our country will be erased form the map and from the History of the world. That is why, we will never pull back. We will never yield again…