PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Manet has called on the people of Cambodia to ensure the Koh Ker Archaeological Site is protected and preserved for future generations.
The appeal was made in a Sept 15 message marking the third anniversary of Koh Ker’s inscription on the Unesco World Heritage List, which falls on Sept 17, 2026.
Manet described the inscription as a “historic achievement and a source of shared national pride”, demonstrating to the world the exceptional value of Cambodia’s culture, civilisation, architecture and the creative achievements of its ancestors.
Koh Ker was inscribed on the Unesco World Heritage List on Sept 17, 2023, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The inscription made Koh Ker Cambodia’s fourth cultural property to be included on the World Heritage List, following Angkor, the Temple of Preah Vihear and the Temple Zone of Sambor Prei Kuk.
Located in Kulen district of Preah Vihear province, Koh Ker served as the capital of the Khmer Empire during the reign of King Jayavarman IV in the 10th century.
Unlike its more well-known Unesco sister Preah Vihear, the site stands some distance from the Thai border, and was not targeted by Thai forces during last year’s border clashes.
The site contains numerous temples and other archaeological structures. Its most prominent monument is Prasat Thom, a distinctive stepped-pyramid structure that reflects an important period of innovation in Khmer architecture, urban planning and artistic expression.
Koh Ker’s inscription has provided Cambodia with an opportunity to strengthen its position as a cultural tourism destination. However, it also carries an obligation to protect the property’s authenticity, historical context and outstanding universal value.
The long-term challenge will be to balance conservation with tourism and local economic development, ensuring that revenue and employment opportunities benefit surrounding communities without placing excessive pressure on the ancient site.
“I call on all Cambodian people to cooperate in promoting the value of this site,” said the prime minister.
He noted that Koh Ker’s World Heritage status was not merely a form of international recognition, but also created a collective obligation to conserve and manage the site effectively.
Manet praised the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, the National Authority for Preah Vihear and other relevant government institutions, officials and development partners for their contributions to preparing the nomination dossier and securing its inscription.
He highlighted how heritage protection requires close cooperation between government institutions, local authorities, communities, residents and international partners.
These efforts are intended to ensure that heritage conservation goes hand in hand with social, economic and tourism development, while delivering tangible benefits to communities living around the archaeological site. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
