Monk house where Hun Xen used to live burnt down to grown; Kep Chuktema ordered it to be rebuilt back

Fire engulfing a monk house at Wat Neakawoan Pagoda

10 March 2010
Source: Koh Santepheap
Translated from Khmer by Socheata for KI-Media

Phnom Penh – Monk house No. 10 located in Wat Neakawoan Pagoda which was recently burnt down to the ground was the place where Hun Xen used to live during his youth. Kep Chuktema, the Phnom Penh city governor, has provided aid to rebuild it back and to make it look the same way it used to be for conservation and to show off Hun Xen’s struggle to the public. The location will show that Hun Xen was indeed the son of a farmer who struggled to study in a pagoda in Phnom Penh.

On 08 March 2010, at about 6:50PM, a fire took place in groups 104 and 105 in Village 22, Boeung Kak 2 commune, Tuol Kok district (Wat Neakawoan Pagoda area). During the blaze, 178 houses were destroyed as well as 10 monk houses, and the monk house where Hun Xen used to live was burnt down to the ground. This monk house was where Hun Xen lived in his youth when he came to study in Phnom Penh.

In the morning of 10 March, during the distribution of gifts to the fire victims, Kep Chuktema went to visit the fire location, and he ordered Seng Ratanak, the Tuol Kok district governor, to rebuild monk house No. 10 because it was a place where Hun Xen used to live, furthermore, this monk house must be rebuilt to look the same way it used to be so that it can be preserved [for posterity].