khmer sources

National Bank of Cambodia-Brief History

The National Bank of Cambodia was established in December 23, 1954. After the country gained the independence from French Colony and after the Indochina Printing Institution was closed.


The National Bank of Cambodia printed its own national currency of Riel in order to completely terminate the monetary alliance with the Vietnamese and Laos currency. Meanwhile, there was the establishing of local banking system in which the state banks and private banks operated together in the territory of Cambodia.

In 1964, in order to follow the national building policy of the Sangkum Reastre Niyum, the banking system had been gradually reformed to meet the national economy’s requirement by transforming the National Bank of Cambodia from the semi-autonomous institution to the state-owned bank under the form of the public entity with characteristics of industry and commerce, while the national and foreign private banks were closed, and the state established some state-owned banks such as Bank of Inadanajati, Development Bank, and the Rural Agricultural Bank.


The National Bank of Cambodia in Phnom Penh was demolished with explosives in 1975 by the new Khmer Rouge government as a symbol of their rejection of capitalism. Photograph by Ben Kiernan, 1980.

Unfortunately, on April 17, 1975, the National Bank of Cambodia was closed, the banking system was totally destroyed, the National Bank of Cambodia building was ruined, and the Riel banknotes were no longer used.

Until October 10, 1979, the People's Bank of Cambodia called "Bank of Cambodia¨ was re-established as a Central Bank of the Country by sub-decree No 1211 dated October 10, 1979 of the Council of the Revolutionary People of Cambodia.

With an effort in overcoming the obstacles by the banking system founders of which H.E Chea Chanto, Senior Minister and General Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia, was also an initial founder of the National Bank of Cambodia. At that time, the People's Bank of Cambodia has been rehabilitated from the Zero, because we had no financial resources, no inheritance or something left such as documents, experience or human resources. The intellectuals were killed, scattered, mentally frightful in working since they feared that there could be a return of the Pol Pot regime. However, the life in a situation of weak health of the people with hardly any decent clothes to wear, in a nervous state of mind and separated from their family members, but through hardly work together every day and night, facing insecurity everywhere, and got technical assistance from allied countries, the bank that can be currently seen was built.


Due to the ruined Red Bank, temporary head office of the People's Bank of Kampuchea was opened on the upper floor of the Khmer Bank for commerce. The people’s Bank of Kampuchea set up the leadership structure as well as the operational activities. Furthermore the bank extended to 20-provincial and municipal network in the whole country. The People's Bank of Kampuchea re-issued the Riel banknotes on March 20, 1980 in order to facilitate the goods exchange for daily living of the people and for payment of civil servant’s salaries. During the 1980s, the banking system had only mono-banking system i.e. the People's Bank of Kampuchea had functions as follows:

- The monetary authority

- The cashier of the Government in the form of the National Treasury, and

- The provider of banking services including credit, deposits and payment system.

As for ruined National Bank of Cambodia building was removed and rebuilt in 1990.


Since 1989, the banking system had been gradually reformed through transforming the 20-provincial and municipal banks into specialized provincial and municipal banks and had been operating with economic and financial autonomy in their territory, the People's Bank of Kampuchea had played its role as monetary authority to direct and supervise these banks. In 1991, the first Commercial Bank (Cambodia Commercial Bank "CCB") was established under the form of state Joint Venture Bank for attracting investors and serving the activity of the United Nations Transitional Authorities in Cambodia (UNTAC).

In January 30, 1992, in the 22nd ordinary session, the 1st legislature, the National Assembly of the State of Cambodia adopted the Law on the Change of Organization’s name and duty of the Bank of Cambodia from the People's Bank of Kampuchea to the National Bank of Cambodia, which was promulgated by the council of state in February 8, 1992.

The Paris Peace Accord on 23 October 1991 was a political detour of the transforming the economic regime from planning economy to free market economy that made the Cambodia’s banking system transformed from the mono-banking system to the 2-tier banking system. Furthermore the state had completely authorized the banking activities to be operated in Cambodia through establishing the commercial banks under the local laws or under the form of foreign bank’s branches. These required the National Bank of Cambodia to more strengthen its role in improving its management capacity to direct and supervise through having continuously made some Laws and Prakas such as:

(1) Law on the Organization and Conduction of the National Bank of Cambodia adopted by National assembly on January 26, 1996. This law specified that the principal mission of the National Bank of Cambodia is to "determine and direct the monetary policy aimed at maintaining price stability".

(2) The Law on Foreign Exchange adopted by National Assembly on August 22, 1997.

(3) The Law on Banking and Financial Institutions adopted by National Assembly on November 18, 1999.

Finally, the National Bank of Cambodia compiled and prepared the Financial Sector Blueprint for 2001-2010 that was the document of Financial Sector Development Strategy in Cambodia for its advance with the public confidence and could be integrated into the global financial system.

As a Central Bank, in order to raise its influence and prestige that deserved as the supervisory authority of the banking sector, the National Bank of Cambodia building was renovated in 2003.


In summary, the brief history of the National Bank of Cambodia was divided into three stages:

(i) from 1954 to 1975 in which National Bank of Cambodia gained independence in doing operation, autonomy of printing Riel as the national currency as well as to self-managed banking system in Cambodia territory.

(ii) from 1975 to 1979: was the era in which the National Bank of Cambodia was closed and the whole banking system was totally destroyed.

(iii) from 1979 to nowadays: was the period in which the National Bank of Cambodia survived again and has gradually strengthened as long as to gain a proud recognition from the international community.

The National Bank of Cambodia was publicly called "Red Bank" or "Banque Rouge", because this term was short and easy for public to say and the term "Red Bank" represented the bravery in overcoming difficulties and the patriotism of National Bank of Cambodia.

Although the National Bank of Cambodia passed over three stages among which the banking system was entirely destroyed, the National Bank of Cambodia remained its body and raised the flag "Red Bank" that has achieved a good result and contributed to make economy stability in the context of macroeconomic as well as in the context of monetary policy framework.

Cambodia'sBiggest Festival (4 in 1)

Ceremonies that pay respect to nature’s four elements; earth, wind, fire and water, are extremely important in Khmer culture. The Water Festival, Bon Om Touk, is for water, although the Fire Festival, Bandet Pra-tib, is celebrated during the same period (Nov 4th to 6th). Ork-Am-bok, a prayer to the moon dating back to prehistoric times, also takes place at the same time. The Kite Festival, Pithy Bonghos Kleing, pays respect to the wind and is celebrated in November or December, usually one month after the water festival. The Royal Ploughing festival pays respect to the land and is celebrated in May.

Bon Om Touk – The Water Festival

Every year, when the northward flow of Tonle Sap River into the Tonle Sap Lake reverses, flowing south into the Chatomukh junction, people celebrate in a riotous three day festival. Millions of Khmers take part; people flock to Phnom Penh from every village throughout the kingdom. The focal point for Bon Om Touk, Bandet Pra-tib and Sampaeh Preah Khe, is the front of the Royal Palace, the heart of Phnom Penh and, historically, the centre of the kingdom.

The river is crowded with around 300 pairs of Touk Ngor and Touk Moung (Khmer racing boats) colourfully decorated in traditional Khmer style. Each carries nearly 100 rowers who travel to the city to compete in races. The ceremony starts in the early afternoon and lasts until midnight. Literally millions of people swarm into every nook of space near the river front, all jostling to catch a glimpse of the races. They linger until evening to watch the Bandet Pratib, fireworks that tear the sky asunder, briefly illuminating the seething multitudes. The Water Festival is celebrated in some form across most of Asia, said H.E. Chuch Phoeun, Secretary of State of Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. Originally it was to respect the water Nata (spirit) that brings prosperity and fertility during the rainy season. The Cambodian version does differ from neighbouring countries, however.

"Our ancestors blended the water Nata concept with our own history and legend, and merged the ceremony with others, making the Khmer Water Festival totally unique," said Phoeun.
H.E. Sim Sarak, Director of Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts said water is very important in the Khmer mind, as it brings prosperity. Through it, fertile silt is given to farmers, and an abundance of fish is given to fishermen. Most importantly, all kinds of animals (humans included) can quench their thirst. "Water allows humanity and wildlife to live. It gives stability to nature," Sarak said. "The Water Festival is the Khmer ceremony to worship water."

"The Water Festival is a kind of water worship," agreed Phoeun. "It serves as a kind of apology to water. People want to tell the Nata, they have used water in a good way. If they are wasteful with the water, or use it without permission, the Nata may become angry, and cause droughts or floods.

We perform this ceremony, both to excuse our wastefulness, and to appease the water spirit. This is the reason the festival has a Kat Proat (finally cut line) ceremony. This ceremony is meant to open the door for the water spirit to return back to its home in the sea. The river’s change in direction was seen as the water Nata returning to the sea. The ancient Kat Proat was later combined with commemoration of the Khmer navy’s historic victory of over the Cham giving us the Water Festival we celebrate today."

Meach Ponn, 72, ex-Professor at the Buddhist Institute of Cambodia, elaborated on the changing focus of the festival. "In the Angkorean period, the Water Festival was to pay respects to the Khmer navy of the great King Jayavaraman VII," he said. "We can see representations of this force on temple bas reliefs and read about it in inscriptions. According to carvings in the Bayon and in Banteay Chhmar temple, there was a procession of Khmer troop boats. In some scenes we see the king commanding his navy during battles and vanquishing the Cham."

For Jayavaraman VII, the festival was a symbol of victory; the worship of deceased naval soldiers was the event’s focal point. The processions however, also served as practice manoeuvres, giving valuable experience to the younger members of the navy.

According to Ros Samphal, director of the Department of Culture and Fine Arts of Preah Vihear province, before Jayavaraman VII defeated the Cham, the king hid his army in Bakan (Preah Khan) temple. There, Jayavaraman VII operated training courses for his cavalry, elephant troops and navy. Adjacent to Preah Khan temple is a large natural lake. The king further extended this, making it a kind of naval practice field.

"Gradually, the soldiers increased their strength and skill through training," said Samphal. "The king set up practice battles on a strict timetable. Eventually, with his experienced army, Jayavaraman VII expelled the Cham soldiers from Angkor. These naval training manoeuvres have become part of the water festival, and are a testament to the might of the ancient Khmer navy."

According to the book ‘The Game of Boat Racing’, written by Thach Pen, Professor of Sub-Buddhist Institute of Cambodia, based in Bassak province (now in South Vietnam), in 1528, during the reign of King Ang Chan, a loyal governor named Punhea Tat was appointed to lead the people of Kampuchea Krom (the Mekong delta).

Punhea Tat kept control over the delta with three distinct types of naval army. The first group were technically skilled fighters in fast, narrow boats, precursors of the racing Touk Ngor of today. The second group, the assistant naval army, were a reserve. This group carried war equipment in more sturdy vessels which Touk Moung are descended from. The third group, the Bassak navy, though still able to fight, were focused more on supplying food and other essentials to the first two groups. This third group used Bassak boats; large with roofs, walls and towers. Now known as Pok Chay, these boats still transport goods on Cambodia’s waterways.

Bandet Pra-tib – The Fire Parade Ceremony

According to a Balinese book called ‘Tea-thhavongs’, after the Buddha died, his Chang-kom Kev (four main teeth) were each sent to a different place. The first was kept in Trai-Treng (heavenly third paradise), the second was kept in Dragonair (the kingdom under the sea), the third in Kunthearak (an Indian kingdom) and the fourth in Tuant-borak (a kingdom in Nepal).
Meach Ponn, ex-Professor at the Buddhist Institute of Cambodia, said that the Bandet Pra-tib ceremony is to show respect to the Buddha’s tooth that is kept in Dragonair although "another aspect of Bandet Pra-tib is to show respect to the fire spirit we cook with."

"This is why, during the nights of the Water Festival, we parade fire lights along the river," said Ponn. "These are also called Bandet Pra-tib. Seeing the Pra-tib procession illuminating the Khmer art, pictures and ministerial insignia that follow is breathtaking."

Every year during the water festival there are around ten Pra-tib that parade from 6 pm until late in the night. The Pra-tib vary in style; each ministry has a design relevant to its work.

H.E. Chuch Phoeun recalled that, in days gone by, the second night of the Water Festival saw thousands of tiny Pra-tib called Loy Pra-tib or Loy Kra-thong floating in the river. These miniature floating lanterns were votive offerings to apologise to the water and to the Buddha. "These small Pra-tib, we called Pra-tib Roy (a hundred Pra-tib)," he said. "It was part of the khama-tous (excuse ceremony), an apology and prayer for good fortune. Young people would also pray to find true love using Loy Kra-thong."

Nowadays, Pra-tib Roy are falling out of fashion. They remain popular only in rural areas.

Sapeah Preah Khe – The Moon Prayer Ceremony

According to Meach Ponn, Ex-Professor of the Buddhist Institute of Cambodia, the Sam-Peah Preah Khe (moon prayer ceremony) is to show respect to the Lord Buddha in his incarnation as a rabbit.

Legend says, before being incarnated as the Enlightened One, the Buddha lived as several different animals, one of which was a rabbit. Wishing to be reborn as the Buddha, the Pre-Awakened Buddha (in the form of a rabbit) offered to sacrifice his life. Anyone in need could take his flesh for food, and his skin for clothing

One day a tevada (angel) heard of the rabbit’s plan. The tevada transformed himself into an aged starving hunter and went to test the rabbit. The old hunter said to the rabbit, "I’m so hungry. I haven’t eaten for so long that, if I don’t get something to eat now, I will die."

"I will gladly sacrifice my life if I can help you," said the rabbit. "You make a fire, and I will jump into it to cook myself, so you can eat me to continue your life."

The hunter agreed and built a blazing fire. The rabbit jumped into the flames, but because of his fearlessness and honour, he was unharmed. Seeing the miracle, the hunter quickly transformed himself back into a tevada, carried the rabbit off to the moon and drew his image there, to forever remind all humanity of the Buddha’s selfless kindness.

Ponn argued that, through mimicry of the rabbit’s diet, food like Am-bok (crispy fried rice from the new crop), and banana fruit, ancient Khmers combined the Sam-peah Preah Khe ceremony with Ork-Am-bok by eating banana fruit, drinking coconut milk, and staring up at the moon on the 15th night of the month of Kakek. The moon is traditionally worshipped by many hunter-gatherer societies, as its light allows nocturnal hunting forays. Many believe that the myth about Buddha’s incarnation as a rabbit is the incorporation of prehistoric animist traditions into Buddhism.

Pithy Banghos Kleing – The Kite Festival

Millennia ago, the Khmers flew their kites during the harvest season. Before the Founan period, the Khmer believed in Neak-ta (animistic spirits) leading to the celebration of a Pithy Sen Neak-ta (spirit festival) at the beginning of the rainy season.
im Sarak, Director General of Administration in Charge of Copyright and Co-Author of ‘The Khmer Kite Book’, said this celebration was to invoke the rain spirits. During the harvest season, Cambodians performed the ceremony of kite flying to express their gratitude to their ancestors for ensuring sufficient rains. Kite-flying ceremonies are inescapably linked with the agricultural practices.
"At the beginning of the dry season, as well as asking for rain, the kite flying festival served to express gratitude to Preah Peay (wind spirit) for bringing dry weather to ripen crops," said Sarak. "Through a stone inscription dated AD 972, we know that Khleng (harvest kites) were sacred objects during the Angkorean period. Hard bamboo was used for making kite skeletons and woven tree-leaves for covering the kite bodies. Thus, kite flying was linked with agriculture through the construction of the kites themselves."

Though today the kites are called Khleng Ek, their original name was Khleng Pnorng or Khleng Mer-Kon (mother-baby kite). In the early 8th century, kite flying, as a religious ceremony disappeared due to instability resulting in the fragmentation of the kingdom.

The Khleng Ek is special because it is equipped with the Ek, an instrument which produces varied tones as the kite flies, its height, direction and speed changing the pitch of the note.

"The kite festival is an entertainment enjoyed by everyone regardless of age or social standing," said Sarak. "Cambodians come together at this time without divisions, to enjoy the hard won freedoms of peace."

Rural Khmers still fly assorted kinds of kites in the open field after their harvest. Laughter and shouts of delight ring out as children joyfully pilot their Khleng Kandong (kites without a tail), Khleng Kantaung (pouch kites) Khleng Prabao (pocket kites) and Khleng Kloh (parasol kites) across the sky. During the night Khleng Pnorng and Khleng Kaum (lantern kites) would be flown in the open fields. Villagers return to their houses accompanied by the eerie lights and haunting wails of the kites. Once home, they enjoy the fruits of the harvest, chatting with family and friends over baked potatoes and glutinous rice."

Traditionally, Khmer kite flying ceremony is celebrated on 7th, 8th and 9th of December. The Kite Show at the Angkor – Gyeongju World Culture Expo will show kites from 16 countries to an inernational audience. On the 7th and 8th kites from all countries will be displayed and, on the 9th, traditional Khmer kites will feature.

An Angkorian Extravaganza


The Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006, has been years in the planning. With an estimated work-force of 10,000, government officials in Cambodia and South Korea have been busy working out the master program for the Expo.

There is excitement afoot at the Angkor temples in Siem Reap. From November 21 through January 9, 2007, thousands of performers will descend on the city in a joint event organized by the Cambodian and South Korean governments.

Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism and permanent vice-chairman of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 H.E. Dr. Thong Khon says the event will be a memorable one. The theme for the Expo: "Ancient Future – The Myths of the Orient."

"The Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 was organized by the two countries and we have also invited some 20 countries to take part in the festivities. It will take place over 50 days at Siem Reap’s Angkor Park," H.E. Thong Khon says.
"Of the international line-up we have already confirmed the Trio Jazz Band
from Chicago; the Gunma Symphony Orchestra from Japan; Ultimate Fighting from Mexico; and South Korean fashion designer André Kim will hold a fashion show on the Angkor Wat terrace," he says.

Director of Performing Arts and Dancing at the Ministry of Culture4 and Fine Arts and deputy chief of the Expo’s Events Program Committee H.E. Hang Soth, says South Korean fashion designer André Kim’s fashion show will be a highlight of the Expo. The show will take place on two nights at the Angkor Wat stage on December 12 and 13.

"André Kim says many famous people from around the world will attend, and that there will be heavy international media presence," H.E. Hang Soth says.

H.E. Thong Khon says there will also be 3D film and international film festivals, and an Angkor International Tourism Exchange—a trade exhibition.
"We anticipate over 400,000 visitors to attend besides the normal tourist numbers taking in the sights at Angkor," H.E. Thong Khon says.
Purpose built buildings on the more than10ha-site will include separate Cambodian and South Korean cultural pavilions and food courts, a convention center, two outdoor stages, a children’s playground, souvenir booths, a night market area and sports fields. For those who cannot afford accommodation in Siem Reap, camping facilities will also be available.

"A permanent stage at the eastern entrance to Angkor Wat has also been planned and is to be constructed for special performances," H.E. Thong Khon says. "We have also built a Cambodian cultural village to give visitors a taste of Khmer civilization."

"There will be over 100 different performances," H.E. Thong Khon says. "Besides Khmer acts, there will be South Korean shows, and various other participating countries will perform too. Everyday from 3pm to 11pm there will be hourly performances."
Under Secretary of State of the Ministry of Tourism and chairman of the Financial and Logistics Committee of the Angkor-Gyeongju World Culture Expo 2006 H.E. So Mora says the Cambodian Government has invested $2 million in the event; South Korea, $4 million. Over and above this, more than $30 million has been spent on improving infrastructure into Siem Reap, and cleaning up the city’s water supply. But most of the $30 million sum will be spent creating a power grid to bring electricity from Thailand.

"Admission—and entrance—into the Expo grounds will be separate to that of the Angkor Park. Prices will be set in the following categories, Cambodians will pay $3 per adult and $2 for children under 12; Koreans will pay $15 per adult and $9 for children; and other foreigners will pay $20 per adult and $12 for children," H.E. So Mora says.

"For all the expense of an event like this, we don’t expect any profits, but what we will achieve is an image of a Cambodia that is peaceful, stable, and a special destination within the tourism market," he says.
Director of the APSARA Authority and vice-permanent chairman of the Marketing and Promotion Committee of the Expo H.E. Mey Marady says there will be extensive advertising to promote the event, most notably on CNN Asia

"Almost 200 spots have been paid for," H.E. Mey Marady says.
"Besides that, there will be advertisements broadcast on local television channels and radio stations, on billboards, on buses, and in newspapers and magazines. There will be a large poster and flyer drop too," he says.
Director of Performing Arts and Dancing at the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and deputy chief of the Events Program Committee of the Expo Mav Keng, says the event will be the largest of its kind put on in Cambodia in decades.

"For months many artists have been training for this special event," Keng says. "In my experience, nothing in 40 years has ever compared with this. It is much bigger than the millennium celebrations."
"Over the 50 days, there will be many styles of traditional Khmer dancing and shows performed, including apsara and makor dance, shadow puppet shows, Khmer opera, renditions of the Churning of the Milk tale and of the marriage ceremonies of Preah Thong and Neang Neak. It is estimated that over 1,200 artists will perform at these events," he says.

"On the opening day, we will begin [the Expo] with a parade of all the artists, including the international guests, who will all walk to the main stage and perform 3-minute segments for each team or country. This will be followed by a troupe of Cambodians in traditional dress from Khmer history: from the Nokor Phnom (Funan) era through the Chenla era, Angkor era, post-Angkor era until today. There will also be a parade of elephants, horses and soldiers in ancient costume. The parade is planned to take around one hour."

"Another variety of our ancient traditional music from the Angkorian era called tek tak or tuam ming—music rarely heard nowadays—will also be performed," Keng adds.

Vice-permanent chairman of the Joint Executive Secretariat of the Expo H.E. Suos Yara says the reason the Cambodian Government is spending $2 million on the event is to uphold the culture and identity of the Kingdom.

"We want to tell the world that the Kingdom of Cambodia is not warring and that we are in harmony and peace," H.E. Suos Yara says.

"We are currently on schedule and working well to our timeframe ... The construction of the buildings is over half-way completed," he says. "We’re not worried."

H.E. Dr. Thong Khon says the Expo will enable the countries involved to promote the themes of the "Myth of the Orient" and "Humans and their Environment".

"This Expo will unite our current realities with scenes from ancient times," he says.

H.E. Thong Khon remembers the evening at Angkor with José Carreras. "[There were] a million visitors, who all saw the amazing beauty of Angkor Wat. The temple is particularly spectacular at night when it is lit with flaming torches. This is once-in-a-lifetime sort of stuff."

The inaugural Gyeongju World Culture Expo took place in 2000 in South Korea’s Gyeongsangbuk province, followed by a second in 2003. Gyeongju is in the southeast of the country and is considered the capital of the Buddhist Kingdom Silla, uniting the Kingdom some 1,300 years ago.

Miss Tourism of Cambodia

It was all glitz and girls at the recent Miss Tourism Queen International pageant held in Hanghzou, China in June. Eighty-five contestants vied for the crown, pouting and preening in snazzy getups and strutting on heels wearing tiny bikinis.

Cambodia was represented by Sun Srey Mom. A 22-year-old student from Kompong Cham, Srey Mom was not successful, but she says she was happy just to be a part of the competition.

"You know I am very proud with the opportunity I was given and to hold the Cambodian flag on stage with other women from around the world. I know I wasn’t beautiful enough compared with the other contestants, but I am very happy, because it was a chance for me to promote tourism in Cambodia and for me to learn and share experiences with the other entrants," Srey Mom says.
Srey Mom also discovered that most of her fellow contestants towered above her.


"In Cambodia I am considered tall, but when I arrived in China and stood with all the others, I was one of the shortest! I am 173cm height [Ford Model’s minimum height] and there are few women that tall in Cambodia, but some of my contestant friends were 185cm," she says.
"I don’t have the ability to achieve huge success, but I think entering the competition was a small achievement that I did on behalf of Cambodia."

The Miss Tourism Queen International pageant was founded in 1949 and has been held in more than 80 countries. It aims at boosting the tourism industry in participating countries, promoting cultural exchanges between countries and strengthening friendships.

Srey Mom packed her suitcase with pictures of Angkor Wat and examples of Cambodian traditional cloth to show "the world" what this country has on offer.

"Cambodia is one of the most beautiful countries on the planet," she says. "We have Angkor Wat and many other temples besides; beautiful and clean beaches; waterfalls and mountain; and so this is why I tried my best to use this competition to promote Cambodia as much as I could."

Srey Mom had some success as amateur travel agent saying she’s persuaded her close friends "Miss China, Miss Japan, Miss Ireland and Miss Vietnam" to visit, "especially to see Angkor Wat."

She charmed the judges in the talent section of the competition, dancing traditional Cambodian ramvong. "After Miss Eritrea danced to Latin rhythms, Miss Latvia did a belly dance and Miss Dominican Republic sang a rap, I enchanted the audience with ramvong."

Sun Srey Mom is not just a sarei sahat—she is also a volleyball instructor at Phnom Penh’s Preah Yutkanthor High School, a second-year student of Management at Asia Europe University and she can speak English and Chinese.

And in true beauty queen style: "I enjoy my work as a volleyball instructor, because I love children."

She has a hectic day: five hours courtside at Preah Yutkanthor High School, modeling school at Sapors for four hours and then on to university in the evening. She is willing to put in the time.

"For me sport is my life, but modeling and acting are my dream, and I don’t want to abandon either of them. Both careers are important for me and I think each of them can contribute to our national rehabilitation. As a volleyball instructor, I can promote physical well-being in the younger generations, while my modeling and artistic pursuits are an emotional ‘food’ for the public."

When asked how she felt when slipping into the two-piece in China, Srey Mom says she was shy and felt very strange.

"I nearly fell when I had to walk across the stage, because it was the first time I’d ever worn a bikini. I think I was the winner of ‘The Most Shy’ award!”

Miss Philippines, Justine Gabionza, won the competition earning a cool $30,000. Miss Serbia and Montenegro was 1st runner up, followed by Miss Congo and Miss Singapore. Cambodia was to host its own beauty pageant in a televised competition in October—its first in more than 40 years, but was canceled in August after funding difficulties.

Facing Up To The Environment


IPS Mekong Fellowship 2005-2006

“During the dry season my villagers work very hard to get enough clean water to drink. The lake level has dropped significantly in recent years. The low level of the lake cannot be blamed entirely on lack of rain, but it may be that there is a higher amount of sediment than there should be in the water,”

No one is yet able to foresee how badly affected Cambodia and Vietnam’s downstream waters of the Mekong River or the Tonle Sap Lake will become. Upstream countries like China have built dams, and many locals in both Cambodia and Vietnam, are voicing concerns about the environmental damage caused by the decreased water levels flowing down from the north.

Dams are not the only problem, growing populations in Cambodian and Vietnamese floating villages are creating more waste and the environment is paying the price. Some organizations are taking steps to turn this around and many living on the country’s great waterways are learning to appreciate the value of their environment.

Nguyen Thanh Ky is a 37-year-old fish farmer at Chau Doc in southwest Vietnam. Thanh Ky says that in the last few years, fish farmers have been facing a string of problems.

"Fish are not surviving in the bé [fish farm]. Five years ago, the fishing was good, and I never had problems with fish dying in large quantities," Nguyen says.

"Today, the number of fish in most bé in this area is decreasing and many of the bé are quite empty of fish. I don’t know what will4 become of our lifestyle in the future. Will there even be a future for floating fish farmers like us?"
"Some people have told me that fish farming is suffering because of water pollution, and even if we changed the type of fish we breed, the result would be the same: they’d die."

Kompong Loung commune chief Kev Sovannareth believes that with the population of floating villages in Cambodia growing at the rate they are, the environment is seriously at risk.

"I remember floating villages with just a couple of hundred people living on them, but now there are many thousands; ten times the amount," Sovannareth says.

"This poses a great risk to the water around the villages now, the water used to be so clear. At some spots you could see the bottom of the lake and fish swimming," he says.

Many fish have not been sighted for years now; fish like the chpin, the chra-keng [Barbus siaja], a fish found in swamps and flooded rice fields, the freshwater Elephant fish [Oxyeleotris marmorata] and the pruol [Cyprin laveon]."

"The fish are dying because plastic and oil are floating into their habitats … Plastic bags are floating about everywhere on the lake and around the village. They disrupt fishing activities all the time, and it’s popular nowadays to use those plastic bags isn’t it? It used to be the opposite, people would just use banana or lotus leaves.

"But the most frightening thing for me to see is the pollution from engines, from the oil and petroleum leaking into the water. Fish are choking. People’s health is affected and every year many of my villagers get skin diseases. I don’t know what kinds of diseases they are or from where they’re getting them from. But I have an idea, though: pollution," Sovannareth says.

Further south in Kompong Svay district, Kompong Thom province, another commune chief, Heng Monour, is worried about water shortages and illness too.

"Many of the commune people get the same stomach diseases and fevers. What if there was a dangerous epidemic of cholera?" Monour asks.

"The river is much lower and our commune hasn’t seen any of the Mekong dolphins for the last five years now. We used to see them here every season," he says.

"The amount of rain hasn’t changed in these parts, but the Mekong is just not flowing from the Tonle Sap Lake in as great a quantity as it used to. When I heard news saying that further upstream, the Mekong River

was being dammed, I put two and two together and figured that our water levels are lower now because of the dams."

In a story published in The Cambodian Scene Magazine (July/August 2005), the water levels of the Tonle Sap and its nearby tributary the Dang Tong Lake, were so low in May 2005 that residents in the area discovered an ancient tree, claimed to date back to the 11th century.

Coordinator for Environmental Education at NGO Osmose Keo Yada says Osmose selected Koh Chi Vaing commune in a trial to educate the residents about their river environment and to teach them how to look after it. Koh Chi Vaing is situated on a remote area of the Tonle Sap; people living there are poor and earn money on, and around the lake, fishing, hunting and cutting trees to sell.

"A few generations ago, the water in the Tonle Sap Lake was clean enough to drink, now people get skin diseases from just bathing in it," Keo says.

Osmose, established in 1999, is one of many non-profit organizations working around the Tonle Sap Lake, who are educating these floating village residents about how the future of the lake, and their livelihoods will be affected, if they do not change their habits and protect their environment now.

Besides Osmose, two other NGOs are playing a role in helping protect the Tonle Sap, like the Australian-based Live and Learn - Environmental Education (LLEE) and local organization Mlup Baitong.

Live and Learn country director Chum Som Onn says the organization selected five provinces around the lake to undertake training courses in primary schools: Kompong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, Siem Reap and Kompong Thom.

"Live and Learn also work with the local media to broadcast news related to the lake environment. Our targets are those living on the floating villages because they are the people who are affected," Som Onn says.

Keo Yada says the organization’s goal is to educate the younger generations to love and respect their surrounds.

"We teach five sorts of lessons to children: forestry, fish, animals, water and pollution. Osmose has already taught over 700 students from public schools and over 200 children who do not attend school. We also teach floating village people how to make floating gardens to grow vegetables," she says.

"Fewer people are chopping down important trees, or hunting rare birds and animals now. They are beginning to understand the importance of looking after the environment. They are also throwing less rubbish into the water, particularly plastic items."

"As for the lake’s water levels, in the six years I’ve worked for Osmose on the Tonle Sap, I’ve noticed the flood season happen slowly, there is less water; while the dry season sucks up all the water very quickly," Keo Yada says. She blames the lower levels on the floodplains on the upstream damming of the Mekong.

Member of the Economic, Social and Cultural Observation Unit (OBSES) at the Office of the Council of Ministers Touch Seang Tana says before the dams were built, the Mekong flooded at high levels several times a year.

"All that water covered a huge area, providing irrigation, sustenance and life, for thousands of people and animals in the area. With lowering levels this could destroy the area," Seang Tana says.

FOR 30 years, the rice fields at a commune on the outskirts of Phnom Penh lay mostly barren and unused, a legacy of the Khmer Rouge, the Communist regime that led almost 2 million Cambodians to their death, many from starvation. But today Cambodia has a rice surplus. And these fields are incubating some of the most advanced rice technology in Cambodia, under the tutelage of the Cambodian Agricultural Research Institute (CARDI), which is at the center of Cambodia's largely unheralded "green" revolution.

As the global food crisis continues to spark riots and rationing, Cambodia's turnaround showcases the power -- and the limits -- of rice research, experts say. Few countries in modern history have engineered as dramatic an agricultural rebound as Cambodia.

In 10 years, beginning in 1987, by applying the tool suite of the Green Revolution -- new rice varieties, improved irrigation, and better fertiliser -- the country has risen to a peak of rice output, producing enough rice to be self-sufficient for the first time in 25 years.

"It has been a big achievement for (Cambodia)," says Men Sarom, CARDI's director. "And I think research contributed a lot to that." The kernel of that research was first planted in the 1960s, when scientists at the International Rice Research Institute (Irri), a pioneering agricultural institute based in the Philippines, developed higher-yield varieties of grain and introduced new systems of irrigation and fertilising. Thus was born the Rice Revolution.

Of particular importance was IR8, a rice variety that had a yield double that of normal rice, was less susceptible to disease and more responsive to fertiliser. Dubbed the "miracle rice," it has been credited with averting massive famine in India, Africa, and throughout the developing world in the 1970s.

Cambodia is home to one of the Green Revolution's greatest successes. In 1969, Cambodia's annual rice production was 4 million tons a year, a healthy output. But by 1980, the 6 million people who had survived the Communist Khmer Rouge era, from 1975 to 1978, were on the brink of starvation.

By 1997, Cambodia had been virtually reborn: its rice fields were producing nearly as much rice as they had in 1969, but on half the land, making the country rice self-sufficient once again.

The rebound was the result of collaboration between the Cambodian government, the Irri, and the Australia government, which together invested millions of dollars in irrigation, infrastructure, and fertiliser beginning in 1987. They also trained 1,300 scientists and support staff to revitalise the country's agricultural system. And the new high-yielding rice varieties allowed farmers to produce more on less land.

Today, experts say, Cambodia's yields have risen from 1.35 tons per hectare to 2.5 tons per hectare. It produces enough to export -- more than a million tons this year -- but recently imposed export controls to ensure it has enough for its own people.

Still, as Cambodia also illustrates, scientific advances will only take rice production so far. Although Cambodia's yields have doubled in the last 30 years, they are only almost half that of Thailand and Laos (where better soil conditions, seed varieties, climate and management make for higher outputs). Meanwhile, weeds here still cause rice yield losses of up to 30%, and poor seed quality in some areas means that 160,000 tons of rice rot every year, according to a report by the Irri.

"There are still many problems that need to be addressed -- problems from climate change and market changes," say Mr. Sarom. Scientists also warn that the amount of land being farmed -- especially in the developing world -- has not increased substantially in the last two decades. Urban sprawl and industrial development continue to compete for farmland. "Even in Thailand (the world's largest exporter of rice), even if they wanted to, they can't produce more rice. There isn't much more farmland, and the production level is also already pretty high," says Paul Risley, a spokesman for the World Food Program in Thailand.

The recent global food crisis has sharply underlined that, despite the Green Revolution's benefits, many countries are simply not able to produce enough food for their exploding populations. But even if the biggest production advances have already been achieved, that doesn't mean scientists are giving up.

CARDI, continues to develop new varieties that can produce better quality rice and withstand inclement weather. Sarom says research is already pointing the way to higher rice yields. "In America and Australia, you have yields of six to eight tons of rice per hectare. Why not here? We still have the potential to increase productivity," he says.

That enthusiasm was echoed by the country's agriculture minister, Chan Sarun, who said that he expected Cambodia to produce enough rice to export some 8 million tons a year by 2015. That would make it one of the world's top rice exporters.

And around the world, research still offers the promise of better yields. For example, hybrid rice, a blend of three kinds of rice, grows faster, is more disease resistant, and produces 20% higher yields. Hybrids are only just starting to catch on: 800,000 hectares were planted in Asia outside of China between 2001-02, but only 1,000 in Indonesia, for example, and only 20,000 in Bangladesh, according to the Food and Agricultural Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). The expanded use of hybrids has particular promise for food security, the FAO adds.

The current food crisis may be creating an investment environment for a second Green Revolution, some analysts say. By averting massive famine, the first Green Revolution helped create an impression among world leaders that investments in agriculture were no longer as vital. Many countries stopped spending on agricultural development. That may be starting to change as Malaysia, the Philippines, and China have in recent weeks announced plans to boost investment in agriculture.

Tous les guides expliquent le nom de la ville :
"De « phnom » qui veut dire « colline» et « Penh » du nom d’une honorable dame qui aurait trouvé dans un tronc d’arbre flottant sur le Mékong quatre statues du Bouddha en bronze, qu’elle s’empressa de protéger en élevant une butte de pierres et de terre sur laquelle fut construit un stûpa."

Voilà pour la légende...

Phnom Penh a vécu pendant des siècles au croisement du Mékong et du Tonlé Sap qui s’y rejoignent favorisant une société d’échanges.
Aujourd’hui encore de nombreux bateaux partent de Phnom Penh vers des villes de provinces, aux noms évocateurs d’embarcadères (Kompong).
Le Cambodge est avant tout un pays d’eau, d’autant plus vrai qu’il est relativement plat dans son milieu, là où vit la plus grande partie de la population.


La ville s’est développée depuis environ cent cinquante ans, avec la colonisation française.
Les vestiges actuels sont encore bien présents.

La ville bénéficie de larges avenues à trois ou quatre voies, dont certaines sont encore bordées d’arbres qui ont résisté à la période tragique des khmers rouges.
Un système d’égout fait figure de modernité, dans une ville ou la saison des pluies créé de véritables petits lacs entres différents quartiers. L’entretien de ce réseau d’égouts étant très aléatoire, l’écoulement de ce surplus aquatique se fait sur plusieurs heures.
C’est l’occasion de découvrir une autre animation dans les rues. Des cris d’enfants excités par la découverte de nouveaux jeux, des rires devant des situations d’engloutissement des tuyaux d’échappement et la tentative désespérée des propriétaires de véhicule de remettre les gaz. L’écoulement des gouttières fait également éclater la joie des enfants, qui trouvent une douche abondante, tempérée et conviviale…pour les plus hardis.

C’est aussi l’occasion pour les moto-doub d’accroître leur clientèle pour des petits déplacements devenus inconfortables.

J’aime bien Phnom Penh.
C’est une ville attachante, aux mille visages.


D’ailleurs ce n’est pas une ville, c’est une immense usine ou tout se fabrique, à même le sol, dans un fond d’échoppe, sur un bout de trottoir, sur un morceau de terre non bitumée.
Les trottoirs n’appartiennent plus à la ville. Ils sont à ceux qui s’y installent, moyennant une petite rétribution à la police du quartier. Tout se négocie, rien ne se déclare.

Non, c’est plutôt un immense restaurant à ciel ouvert. Les Khmers ne cuisinent pas. Ils préfèrent consommer rapidement. Assis sur un tabouret, sur un bout de table, ils font leur repas d’un morceau de viande bouillie ou sautée, avec du riz. Ou des nouilles qui flottent dans une soupe aux parfums inattendus. Tout ça pour quelques milliers de riels.


Et puis il y a la circulation à Phnom Penh.
Un vrai moment de détente ou d’angoisse pour les non-initiés.
Tout l’art d’apprendre à rester zen est dans la conduite à la khmer. Ne jamais s’arrêter, mais toujours passer, avancer, dépasser. Vraiment un art.
Qu’on rassure les experts en circulation urbaine de nos contrées européennes ! Ici, ça va doucement, un peu lentement. Et jamais de jurons, de coups de klaxons intempestifs. Jamais. Du vrai bonheur.
Quoique quelquefois, on aimerait bien que ça bouge un peu plus vite, surtout si l’on assiste à la manœuvre pour tourner à droite ou faire un petit créneau.
J’adore ces moments de béatitudes. Je ne peux m’empêcher de sourire. C’est sans doute ça l’état de grâce.
Pas de stress. Tout le charme de ce pays.
Mais il ne faut pas en abuser, car on peut s’énerver, tout de même à la fin…

Il faut en profiter pour regarder les cyclos rouler. Les emprunter est très confortable, silencieux, surtout le soir lorsque la circulation automobile leur laisse un peu plus de place. Là encore, pour circuler, pas plus de règleS que les autres. Et c’est lent.
Conscient de la nature de ce travail physique éprouvant, pratiqué par des gens déplacés, une ONG a créé un centre d'accueil The Cyclo Centre à Phnom Penh pour leur apporter de l'aide au quotidien (visiter le site http://www.cyclo.org.uk/index.htm)

Avec l’accroissement de la circulation automobile, leur activité devient difficile.
Un centre a été créé par une ONG
Le gouvernement de Phnom Penh semble se préoccuper de la circulation automobile.
A part les interdictions de stationner, sauvagement entretenues par les petits loueurs de trottoirs… les quelques feux tricolores, il semblerait que des avenues comme l’avenue 108 (qui pourrait devenir la plus belle avenue de Phnom Penh par sa situation) soient régulièrement visitées par la police qui demande à ce que les véhicules-ventouses aillent se faire voir ailleurs.
A part ça, peu de sens giratoire obligatoire, de voies à sens unique, de stationnement alterné, et surtout pas d’éducation routière. A chacun sa règle. On est plus attentif au mode de circulation de véhicules en tous genres, qu'aux panneaux !
Tout cela se mettra en place, forcément. Sinon la ville sera bloquée sous peu.

Et l’architecture.
Un monument à la gloire des Français, ces habiles architectes de l’outre-mer qui ont su allier soleil, chaleur, ombre et lumière.
Avec un charme certain, beaucoup de maisons bourgeoises de la belle époque sont passées aux mains de l’administration ou bien sont occupées par le siège de grandes sociétés.
Enfin et heureusement.

Depuis quelques années seulement, on assiste à la restauration de ces bâtiments.
Il est temps, car un grand nombre de ces belles demeures n’en ont plus pour longtemps, dégradées par le climat, non entretenues et bien souvent squattées.


Tout le charme de Phnom Penh est dans l’aspect unique de cette ville du sud-est asiatique.
Pas de grande hauteur de buildings…. Sauf, l’Assemblée Nationale et le Casino qui jouent à qui sera le plus haut.
Il semble, à regarder les travaux en cours (en Septembre 2004), que l’Assemblée Nationale et le bon peuple laborieux soient plus hauts que les démons du jeu et de l’argent…

La ville se rénove, doucement. De grands arbres centenaires sont abattus, après la cérémonie d’usage, pour en chasser les mauvais démons.
De nouveaux, chétifs et malingres vont repousser à leur place. Mais combien d’années pour avoir une belle ombre ?
Les chaussées en terre se recouvrent de bitumes. Au gré des fonds disponibles. Des tranches de travaux sont lancées et arrêtées.

La ville sera plus agréable pour y circuler, de nouvelles voies seront empruntées. La poussière devrait disparaître également.

L’intérêt touristique de Phnom Penh réside dans le confluent du Tonlé Sap et du Mékong.
L’architecture du siècle dernier et leurs vestiges, le Palais Royal, le Musée National (construits par les Français), de belles pagodes dans le centre, l’incontournable (à sens unique…) Marché Central (en khmer "Psar Thmey", ce qui signifie... « marché nouveau »), la gare, un beau monument des années trente, restaurée, mais peu fréquentée, avec son train quotidien, le Wat Phnom qui se visite avec une aimable contribution si on n’a pas le cheveu brun et plat… et toutes ses belles avenues ainsi que le quai Sisowath, rénové en 2000, qui a belle allure.

L’envahissement des ces endroits par des petits marchands est dommageable pour l’aspect de la ville, les détritus n’étant enlevés bien souvent que le lendemain, dans la matinée.

Faut voir également, le matin dès 5h30, sur le quai, face au Palais-Royal, la grande foule des sportifs du 3ème age, qui vient consolider sa forme physique par des exercices quotidiens rythmés par une sono mise à leur disposition par des petits groupes d’animateurs bénévoles.

Sourires et nonchalance, pauvreté misérable et richesses se côtoient sans complexes.
C’est un autre monde, un autre coup d’œil, une ville qui bouge et qui ne demande qu’à vivre.
AC/PF

Photographs by WWF

Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary is one of Cambodia's natural wonders. Located in the northwestern Mondulkiri province, the area has been charming tourists with its picturesque forests and tranquil surroundings. It's also a haven for a wide range of wildlife, including some endangered species.

Mr. Han Sakhan is the deputy director of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary (PPWS). "The area was designated a wildlife sanctuary and nature reserve in 1993. It has an area of 222,500 hectares, covering three districts - Keo Sima, Koh Nhek, and Sen Monorom. The park lays 20 km north-west of the provincial town, on national road 76".

"Phnom Prich contains range of mountains, a mix of forests and lowlands. This is interspersed with prairies, ponds, and water channels. It provides ideal shelter for large mammals such as elephants, bantengs, gaurs, tigers, and wild buffalos, as well as bears, bovid and other smaller carnivores and primates".

"According to a survey in 2001, the forest has roughly a dozen large wild animal species but no wild-ox or rhinoceros. We installed automatic cameras to record the park's animals, but failed to detect the presence of wild-ox and rhinoceros," said Han Sakhan. "There are around a hundred bird species here, including waterfowl".

"Besides providing shelter to a diverse range of wildlife, the Sanctuary is also home to more than 100 indigenous families, mostly from the Phnong minority. They make their living entirely from the park's natural resources, utilizing natural resins, vines, rattans, herbal trees, and forest products".

"In the past, during the civil war between the government and Khmer Rouge, the area was a tactic base for the Khmer Rouge forces. Today, the region is again quiet, becoming popular amongst foreign tourists attracted by its natural beauty – the mountains, valleys, and prairies, the wildlife and the traditional lifestyle of the Phnong people".

"Tourists wishing to visit Phnom Prich should contact the park's ranger-guides: They will guide them around the site … if visitors want to see more, they can camp here for up to one week. It gives them the time to enjoy the area's natural beauty. Visitors can also see Phnom Prich by riding elephants, a facility offered by the Phnong minority", said Sakhan. "Hiring an elephant and handler costs around $10 per day".

"Currently, people come there to see the natural riches, the herds of elephants, gaurs, wild pigs, and the evergreen, semi-evergreen, and mixed deciduous forests. But those are not the only valuable resources. Underground is another potential – companies have been licensed to studying the possibility of gold", added Sakhan. "This might provide addition prosperity in the future".

The Worldwide Wildlife Funds' Dry Forest Species Project Manager to Cambodia is Andy Maxwell. "Currently, there are 40 rangers at 5 different locations, all under supervision of the Director and Deputy Director: WWF has been providing support for ranger operations since 2002".

"The sanctuary is particularly rich in habitat diversity, ranging from evergreen hill forests, through semi-evergreen, mixed deciduous, deciduous dipterocarp forest, to open woodlands and grasslands. Some parts in the southeast are moist and hilly, while in the north and western parts, it is dry and flat, with scattered waterholes and ponds. There are 3 important streams, on the east and the south, with very clean water which flows all year; all have potential for eco-tourism".

"In terms of wildlife, the northern and western lowlands contain scattered ponds, supporting many important large waterfowl species; These include Cambodia's national bird, the Giant Ibis, as well as White-shouldered Ibis, Sarus Crane, Lesser Adjutant, Woolly-necked Stork, Grey-headed Fish Eagle, and others. Other important bird species include Green Peafowl, and the White-rumped, Slender-billed and Red-headed Vultures: These are relatively common in PPWS and Mondulkiri Protected Forest, and in northern Cambodia. They are rare in other surrounding countries".

"Most importantly, PPWS is vital for its Asian elephant population; It's an endangered species which is seriously threatened with extinction over most of its former range. PPWS also harbours a diversity of carnivores, like tiger, leopard, marbled cat, jungle cat, fishing cat, and dholes (Asian wild dog). The dense forest areas support threatened primate species, Yellow-cheeked gibbon, Black-shanked Douc, and Silvered Langur".

"In regard to forests types, there are evergreen, semi-evergreen and mixed deciduous forests, all with high canopy – often as high as 30 meters. The canopy for all these forests is closed in the rainy season, but the semi-evergreen and mixed deciduous forests are open canopy during the dry season. The more closed forest habitat is good for primates (monkeys and gibbons). The number of tree species is fairly high, but we don't know clearly - to date, no detailed scientific surveys on vegetation have been completed. The open deciduous dipterocarp forest and woodlands are not diverse in their canopy species (only about 5-6 species account for most of the canopy trees), but the undergrowth and ground layer vegetation can be much more diverse, including diverse grass species in the ground layer. Fire is an important factor in forest structure and function, and it is important to note that frequent fire may be needed to maintain the open forests that serve as valuable wildlife habitat".

"How many species of animals and birds are found in the area?", Andy Maxwell mulled, "we do not know the numbers or population counts accurately. The camera-trap images at least tell us which species are present".

"The area is a harmonious habitat for indigenous people. Generally, the lifestyles and livelihoods of the local Phnong communities respect the wildlife and natural resources inside Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary, although some hunting in the past may not have been sustainable. Currently, most threats to wildlife and natural resources come from outside the local communities; outsiders move into the area and increase the hunting, logging, and pollution. Local indigenous people are very knowledgeable about wildlife and resources, and more than 50% of the Department of Nature Conservation and Protection rangers working in PPWS are Phnong men from local communities. Some of them are former hunters, who are now very good at patrolling and protection. Because the relationship between local communities and PPWS authorities is relatively good, the local people help with monitoring in the sanctuary, providing useful information on wildlife observations and illegal activities", Andy observed.

"The area also attracts foreign tourists. Up to now, the supporting services for tourists are not very good - there are not enough rangers to help guide tourists, and the roads into PPWS are very difficult, even in the dry season. But if the access improves in the future, PPWS has great potential for river trips by canoe or raft, home stays in local villages, and hiking through very diverse habitats, and enjoying the beautiful streams and waterfalls. Eventually, when wildlife populations recover, there is a good potential to see large mammals like banteng, gaur, Eld's deer, and primates, as well as large waterfowl and green peafowl. This is true for the whole landscape, including the Mondulkiri Protected Forest which is adjacent to PPWS".

Today, the future of Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary looks safe. The value of this natural treasure is appreciated and under protection. For the visitor, Phnom Prich is well worth the long haul north, offering glimpses of rare wildlife, rich and diverse natural forests, and traditional indigenous cultures which have disappeared from other parts of the country.