Lighting project part of broader push for Angkor entertainment

Written by Peter Olszewski
Thursday, 11 June 2009
The Phnom Penh Post

SIEM REAP

A series of entertainment projects have been proposed at Siem Reap's temples in recent years, including a three-day festival on the backburner and an operational night festival.

THE ONGOING light installation project at Angkor Wat temple - which in recent weeks has sparked allegations of temple damage and a defamation lawsuit - is the latest in a series of projects intended to transform Siem Reap's temples into major entertainment venues.

Photo by: KYLE SHERER

An assortment of lighting equipment used for the Angkor Wat Night Festival is stockpiled on the grounds of the temple.

Though some of these projects have not moved past the proposal stage, one of them - the Angkor Wat Night Festival - is fully operational and has the backing of both UNESCO and the government.

The most recent plans for an entertainment project were presented by the Russian company Rise Entertainment during a meeting of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor (ICC) held last week in Siem Reap.

The Moscow-based company, which in 2007 pitched a series of concerts as part of a festival to be titled "Angkorica", now aims to host a three-day concert festival at Bayon temple.

The "Angkorica" proposal, which included plans for an appearance by the Icelandic singer Bjork as well as elephants covered in white-and-gold cloth, was priced at between US$3.5 and $5 million and would have been staged at Angkor Wat and other temples.

Vladimir Meshkey, general producer for Rise Entertainment, told the Post earlier this month that the company had been advised by the Apsara Authority, the body that manages Angkor Wat, to consider a more modest festival at an alternate site.

"We're trying to work it out," Meshkey said. "We'll see in another year."

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In Brief: Sok An to address revenue concerns

Written by Khouth Sophak Chakrya
Monday, 08 June 2009
The Phnom Penh Post

Deputy Prime Minster and Chairman of Apsara Authority Sok An will appear in the National Assembly next week to address concerns about the revenue gathered from admissions to Angkor Wat, according to an official.

"[Sok An] will be appearing in the National Assembly to answer all the concerns of parliamentarians," Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said Sunday. "It's a good chance to put the opposition party's doubts and criticism against the government to rest." Sam Rainsy Party lawmaker Son Chhay sent a letter to Heng Samrin, president of the National Assembly, on Thursday, calling on Sok An to answer questions relating to Angkor Wat tourist revenues, in addition to the issues of night lighting and temple conservation.

New lighting to be installed at Angkor Wat by advise of UNESCO

PHNOM PENH, June 6 (Xinhua)

UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization) offered positive recommendation to ease the public concern over the installing of lighting at Angkor Wat, local media reported on Saturday.

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[Cambodian authorities installed new spotlights on the world famous tourism attraction - Angkor Wat to allow the temple to open more longer after sunset. The scheme includes the installation of lights near the ceiling of the northern gallery of the temple.]

[However, local press and opposition officials questioned the scheme and expressed their concern for the lights, claiming the light fixtures would cause damage to the centuries-old heritage in the long term.]

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After several days of increasing public arguing and attention, UNESCO gave a positive recommendation to the project recently on the condition that it (the project) is conducted in close cooperation with its International Coordinating Committee (ICC) for Angkor, the Chinese language newspaper Jian Hua Daily said.

The ICC, which advises government body the Apsara Authority on management of the World Heritage Site, advised the authority to limit illumination to the entrance way to the temple and its bas-relief gallery on the north side.

"We have to abide by the recommendation, but the decision is still from the Apsara Authority, as sovereignty from Cambodia," Council of Ministers spokesman Phay Siphan said, adding that the lighting project was still in a study phase.

This installation was monitored by the Apsara authority and UNESCO, according to the company who installed the lights, adding that the UN organization provided technical assistance.

UNESCO Country representative Teruo Jinnai denied that a test setup of the lights had damaged the temple. "There was no direct damage and all the holes were made a long time ago," he said. And the Apsara Authority said that only existing holes that once held wooden support beams were being used.

Government Files Suit Against NGO Chief

By Heng Reaksmey,
VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh
04 June 2009

The government has submitted a complaint of disinformation against the head of an NGO who has been critical of the authority that runs Angkor Wat.

The criminal suit against Moeung Sonn, head of the Foundation for the Support of Khmer Civilization, follows his critical statements against Apsara Authority.

Moeung Sonn recently held a press conference critical of an Apsara Authority project to light up Angkor Wat’s temples at night. “The Apsara Authority and Unesco have told the public already that the light on th temples will not affect the temples, but Moeung Sonn is trying to make trouble against it,” government lawyer Phal Chandara said. “So that is why the government decided to sue him.”

Informed about the suit, Moeung Sonn said he was not worried. “What I said about the lighting on Angkor Wat temple was because I am worried about the temple,” he said. “I didn’t mean to incite people.” A love of Cambodian culture compelled him to protect the temples, he said.

The authority and Unesco have said the night lighting at the famed ancient temples will not hurt the structures. A joint Cambodian-Korean venture has been casting light on the temple since April.