Cambodia to seek World Heritage status for Khmer temple

11 June 2007 (Bangkok Post) – The Preah Vihear temple which straddles the border between Thailand and Cambodia is the next site that the government of Cambodia hopes to be listed as a World Heritage site. The temple was built by Kings Suryavarman I and II between the 11th and 12th centuries. Ownership of the site was disputed between Thailand and Cambodia, and the International Court of Justice awarded the latter custody of the site. However, the temple is more easily accessible from the Thai side of the border.

Cambodia asks UN status for border temple

he Cambodian government has renewed efforts to have Unesco classify the ancient Preah Vihear temple (Khao Phra Viharn in Thai) as a World Heritage site, government spokesman Khieu Kanharith confirmed Monday.

Kanharith confirmed reports in the Khmer-language Rasmei Kampuchea newspaper that the important 11th to 12th century temple, which lies in the far north of the country perched on the Thai border, should be recognised as a World Heritage monument to help assure its continued preservation.

“This is not the first time the government has attempted to have Preah Vihear listed as a World Heritage site, but now several people in the government understand the procedures necessary to put this case much better,” Kanharith said by telephone.

He said Foreign Minister Hor Namhong and Deputy Prime Minister Sok An were leading the new push for World Heritage classification. The government last attempted to have the key religious and architectural site classified in 2001.

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Read more about Cambodia’s bid to list Preah Vihear temple as a World Heritage Site.

Related books about the Preah Vihear temple:
– The Treasures of Angkor: Cultural Travel Guide (Rizzoli Art Guide) by M. Albanese
– Angkor and the Khmer Civilization (Ancient Peoples and Places) by M. D. Coe
– Angkor: Cambodia’s Wondrous Khmer Temples, Fifth Edition by D. Rooney and P. Danford