via Unesco, 24 March 2023: UNESCO has organized a one-day workshop on the prevention of looting and illicit trafficking of cultural properties in Koh Ker with the financial support of the UNESCO Heritage Emergency Fund.
Approximately 140 people attended the workshop including villagers of Sambor, Rom Chek, Kor Ker, and North Srayang located in the Koh Ker cultural heritage site, students and teachers from Srayang High School, and local security guards. The local authorities including the Kulen District Governor, the Preah Vihear Province Deputy Governor, and members of the APSARA National Authority joined the event.
The objective of the workshop was to empower Koh Ker villagers, in particular students, to become the guardians of their heritage and to prevent the looting and destruction of cultural properties in Koh Ker, which is currently under evaluation for its inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.