The Queen Mother: A sacred part of Cambodia’s cultural heritage

Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk poses for a photograph at Banteay Srei Temple in Siem Reap province in 1973. DC-CAM

#Opinion

The purpose of law is not only to promote justice but also to protect, preserve and support the institutions that are essential to society. As a historical and cultural pillar of Cambodian society, the Cambodian Royal Family is one of these institutions, and as the Matriarch of the Cambodian People, the Queen Mother stands as both a cornerstone of this institution as well as a sacred institution unto herself in the history of Cambodia.

The legacy of the Queen Mother is intertwined with the history of Cambodia’s independence and development into a modern Nation. Her Majesty’s legacy therefore warrants not only recognition in history but also recognition, preservation and protection under the law. Drawing from the long history of Royal decrees and legal precedence, there seems little doubt that the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk would also agree.

The future of Cambodia is often interpreted through the lens of how the country is progressing, modernising and transforming; however, nations that overlook, ignore or fail to protect their historical heritage, assume the risk of losing their identity and consequently the energy that brought them to where they are today.

The Government should take action to ensure the legacy of the Queen Mother is recognised under Cambodian law and the Constitution, both as a matter of principle to protect this artifact of Cambodia’s birth as a nation and out of respect for such a sacred part of Cambodia’s cultural heritage.

Youk Chhang
Ambassador to the Cabinet of His Majesty, the King of Cambodia
and Executive Director of the Queen Mother’s Library (QML) & the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-CAM)

-Phnom Penh Post-