(Video) Selected Comments of Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet, on the 27th National Culture Day (March 3) and the 6th dialogue with national artists [Unofficial Translation]

CMF: 05/03/2025

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(1) Update the list if those listed archaeological sites are still ones on the ground

Regarding this point (about determining the maximum number of areas necessary to protect in all archaeological sites in 2025), I would like to recommend that the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts (MCFA) work with the Ministry of Land Managment, (Urban Planning and Construction – MLMUPC) to clearly define them. There are many areas designated as archaeological sites throughout the country […] it is necessary to update whether those archaeological sites that are on the list are actually still the archaeological sites on the ground […] we have two tasks to carry out – firstly, protect, preserve, and conserve sites that have cultural value in history; and secondly, ensure appropriate land use in those places suitably correspondng to the situation of the people. In the past, I gave this principle to the Minister of Land Management, Urban Planning, and Construction to work with the Minister of Culture and Fine Arts to identify and list them as, for eampe, in the 401 square kilometer Angkor area, we have more than ten thousand archaeological sites already […]

(2) Be flexible about whether what the research has found on the ground is still something worth protecting 

The other day, I have asked (my assistants to inquire from) experts what defines an archaeological site? Some technicians do not have a clear definition. For places where there are temple structure and clear records, they are easy to define. For some places that have almost lost their character (as archaeological sites), both in terms of infrastructure and historical aspects, (it is not). Therefore, there are two responsibilities here -.firstly, to protect and preserve historical sites, infrastructure, and ancestral heritage. At the same time, secondly, we need to be flexible about whether what we have on the list is really something to be protected. If the research shows that the appearance on the ground does not match the situation that is considered a historical site, it must be clearly stated so that we can determine the conditions for reusing the land […]

(3) If there is a place that does not need to be protected as a cultural property, after we update the list, the conditions of land use should be relaxed somewhat

There could be case that places on the list are ancient mounds or ancient stations, but in reality, people have already lived there, done farming, and even have solid land titles […] (Therefore) I request to (1) re-register them. MLMUPC and MCFA should work together to update all these locations; (2) it should be clearly defined which locations are ancient mounds and/or ancient stations that need to be protected; and (3) the definition of land use should be clearly defined to ensure a balance between protecting ancestral heritage and addressing the needs of current citizens. If there is a place that does not need to be protected as a cultural property, after we update the list, the conditions of use should be relaxed in some way […]

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(4) The Khmer ancestors are the creators but we share their great for the international community to recognize and learn about it

On this point (regarding the registration of both tangible and intangible heritages), I appreciate the efforts of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts […] as well as the relevant working groups […] and for this year’s listing, we have registered the Khmer scarf and the wedding dress/costumes/outfits. We are preparing to register the Cambodian Sangkranta on that list. Please continue this work so that the world can see what our ancestors have worked hard to create and leave them behind, all of which are becoming the world heritages. The Khmer people, the Khmer ancestors, are the creators, but this great work must be shared so that the international community can recognize and learn about it […] at this stage, we are working hard to further promote the Khmer cultural heritage to the world through various means, such as by registering all of these heritages […]

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(5) Modernize arts/culture through reform, modernization and diversification

I would like to commend the high level of creativity in all its forms of arts […] creativity must be adapted (in conformity with times) but not losing national identity. In arts, culture, civilization, people copy each other. In this modern time of globalization, someone takes some formulas from others, but do not copy everything. We combine them, in this case, with what we have, so that we can modernize it in the Cambodian way – through reform, modernization, diversification, and revolution of culture […] the other day, I noted that the ministry has instructed rap singers regarding the use of words in their relics […] I saw young people are famous even before the started using socially hatred words (in their songs) […]

(6) “Culture for all, all for culture”

As you can succeed by maintaining dignity, preserving our culture, there is no need to copy from others. We must work together to preserve national identity. We are working on development in the Cambodian way, with our (cultural) frontiers […] I hope that the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts will help guide further […] when an action or word crosses the boundaries of morality and culture of the Cambodian society, the masses and citizens always come out to warn, remind, and guide. This is the spirit of preserving culture. It is “culture for all, all for culture.” We have a duty to protect culture […] what we preserve is not rigid. We open up the corner for development to some extent, but not to lose national identity […]

(7) everyone to think about real human relationships in the social media era

In the digital age, social media such as Facebook and/or TikTok, sometimes people focus more on emotional appeal than on what is real […] we forget about what (action, if one does,) hurts the feelings of others […] I am calling one everyone to think about this – the real human relationships. These days, sitting at the same table, (friends or colleagues) no longer talk to each other, but look at their phones […] and sometimes, communicating with someone 3,000 kilometers away […] we no longer talk to each other, thus no longer know how tolerate each other […] if we have a way to talk to each other, understand each other, and discuss, I think we can get rid of many of the disagreements without increasing the problems between each other, and we don’t need to bother hundreds of thousands of people who sit, watch, and click (for supports regarding) the conflicts on Facebook […]

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(8) Open our hearts, preserve our heritages, share them with all, and make it known to the world

For the work (of preventing the risk of loss of intangible cultural heritage), I thank and appreciate the hard work, especially in protecting art forms at high risk, carried out by MCFA […] research, compilation, dissemination and reuse are important factors that will jointly preserve our cultural arts and ancestral heritages […] during the Khmer New Year last year, folk games are played everywhere. They flourish again […] I hope that this year and the following years, the people will play folk games in a more vibrant way across the country […] the youth are the core force, I have seen it last year, that jointly support arts and culture, together with our artists, both the older generation and the younger generation, to promote arts, culture and traditional games […] let us be happy to preserve cultural assets, including our folk games […] let us open our hearts, preserve our heritages and share them with all, celebrating what belongs to the Cambodians and making it known to the world […]

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(9) Young people to enroll in courses to preserve ancestral skills as well as secure careers to make a living

(On strengthening the framework of the Fine Arts Secondary School and the Royal University of Fine Arts,) the Royal Government has distributed 2% to 4% scholarships, meaning 30,000 to 60,000 people in the training plan of 1.5 million people […] on the way in here, I have met with grand uncles, who are our living heritages, with achievements, talents, and recognition […] (we should) prepared students to enroll in their training centers/schools […] while they teach them skills, we could also help in their programs. That means helping both the senior teachers who have training facilities, and their training skills. I encourage young people who are interested in ancestral skills to enroll in more courses to participate in preserving our ancestral skills as well as securing their careers to make a living […]

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(10) May the Cambodian community abroad participate in training the Cambodian cultural arts so that our children know about their culture

In the past, there were Cambodian citizens who were artists, and who took our cultural arts and culture to broadcast abroad, sometimes privately […] I am calling for inspiration to encourage them, our youth everywhere, especially in the Cambodian community abroad, to continue to participate in training the Cambodian cultural arts so that children can learn, perform, and know about their culture […] no one can promote the Cambodian culture besides the Cambodian people. I am calling on the Cambodian children, the Cambodian people in all directions, do everything possible to promote culture on the international stage, as well as protect and preserve our culture […]

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(11) It is our pride that the Cambodian film industry produced large-scale films and screened them abroad

(For the film industry, which is an important element of the cultural industry,) after meeting with you last time, the Royal Government has put forward some principles […] however, regarding facilitating the (filming) procedure on location has been difficult. Sometimes, the scripts have been checked by the MCFA, but when it comes to the filming location, the local authorities ask for the script to be reviewed. I have advised the MCFA, as well as the provincial capital administration that if the script content of the film has been approved by MCFA, when applying for a location to shoot in a province or in Phnom Penh, local authorities should not ask to review the script again. MCFA has already looked at the script […] I need to meet with (those of) you (in the film industry) again because there are some tasks that have not been adequately responded to […] such as training, and organizing tasks to help the film industry […] we are proud that the Cambodian film industry has moved from a difficult stage, lacking technical equipment, to being able to produce large-scale films and screen them abroad. This is our pride […]./.