sponsor

sponsor

Suu Tov KhmerKrom (mysong myvoice)

Tuesday, August 11

Global condemnation of Burma over Suu Kyi verdict

The world is protesting the sentence to Aung San Suu Kyi for yet another 18 months of house arrest, but Asean now must face the fact that there is little chance for a credible general election in Burma next year.


Writer: AFP
Published: 12/08/2009 at 03:10 AM

US President Barack Obama led global calls Tuesday for the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi, and the European Union pledged new sanctions after her house arrest was extended.

After Burmese authorities ordered the democracy icon to remain under house arrest for a further 18 months, US President Barack Obama called for her "immediate, unconditional release" and denounced the junta's "unjust decision."

Pointing to the "thousands" of other political prisoners held in the country, Obama also expressed concern at the seven-year jail sentence handed to US citizen John Yettaw who swam uninvited to Suu Kyi's lakeside home in Yangon in May, in a bizarre incident that landed her in court.

The United Nations Security Council was to hold emergency consultations at 3:00 pm (1900 GMT) to take up the Burmese court's verdict, with UN chief Ban Ki-moon saying he was "deeply disappointed" by the move.

Ban called on Burma's ruling generals "to immediately and unconditionally release" the democracy activist.

Incensed by the verdict, 14 Nobel peace prize winners wrote an open letter to the Council denouncing the extended house arrest of their fellow laureate.

The sentence, which effectively ruled out any possibility of the 64-year-old standing in polls next year, provoked immediate calls for tougher sanctions against the military rulers who prevented Suu Kyi from taking power after her party won elections in 1990.

"The EU will respond with additional targeted measures against those responsible for the verdict," the European Union's Swedish presidency said in a statement on behalf of the 27-nation bloc.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said Suu Kyi's continued detention was "unjustified and unacceptable on all accounts."

An EU source said a "written procedure" had been launched to beef up the sanctions which could come into force on Friday if there was no opposition from the bloc's members.

Former Czech President Vaclav Havel, who was imprisoned during the communist era, said the house arrest extension was "scandalous" and reflected the "political cynicism of one of the toughest totalitarian regimes in the world."

Gordon Brown, prime minister of Burma's former colonial power Britain, said he was "saddened and angry" at the verdict in the "sham trial."

"This is a purely political sentence designed to prevent her from taking part in the regime's planned elections next year," he charged.

Former US first lady Laura Bush, who took personal interest in US policy towards Burma during her husband George W. Bush's presidential tenure, said she was "deeply disappointed and saddened" by the "unjust verdict," which she said "will continue the unconscionable confinement of this brave leader."

Criticism was more muted closer to home, but Malaysia's foreign minister said Suu Kyi should be released immediately and called for an urgent meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) regional bloc.

"We were hoping that the junta will release her unconditionally and will hold an election to enable Suu Kyi and other political detainees to participate in that election," Anifah Aman told AFP.

Philippine Foreign Secretary Alberto Romulo concurred, telling reporters: "They don't want her to be out before the election."

And a third Asean member, Indonesia, said it was "very disappointed" by the verdict, in a statement from a foreign ministry spokesman.

Burma's giant neighbour India refrained from denouncing the outcome, but foreign ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said New Delhi "has emphasised to the government of Burma the need to expedite the political reform and national reconciliation process."

Prakash called for a "broadbased" process that includes various ethnic groups and said that in this context, "the issue of the release of political prisoners will no doubt receive due attention."

But there was no reaction out of Burma's two other powerful regional neighbours, China and Thailand, which have, along with India, been accused in the past of helping to prop up the junta in Yangon.

Irene Khan, secretary general of London-based Amnesty International, described the verdict as "shameful" and "nothing more than legal and political theatre."

New York-based Human Rights Watch called the conviction a "reprehensible abuse of power" and urged regional allies to press for her release. Read more!

Silence allows dictatorship to exist

Cambodia's past and current tyrants: Pol Pot (L) and Hun Sen (R)

August 12, 2009
By A. Gaffar Peang-Meth
Pacific Daily News (Guam)


After three years, eight months and 20 days of the Khmer Rouge's brutal rule, during which 1.7 million Cambodians lost their lives, the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Accords offered Cambodia and her people a respite from suffering and the destruction, and the promise of a bright future.

The Paris Conference's Final Act, signed on Oct. 23, 1991, by representatives of 18 governments (Australia, Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, China, France, India, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Soviet Union, United Kingdom, United States, and Vietnam with the participation of officials from Zimbabwe and Yugoslavia representing the non-aligned movement and the United Nations Secretary-General and his representative) contains a comprehensive political settlement of the Cambodian conflict: a settlement that provides for a constitution based on democratic principles; the recognition of the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity and inviolability, neutrality and national unity of Cambodia; and provisions for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the country.

The accords offered a foundation for liberal democracy and for human rights and freedom of the Cambodian people.

But the accords are only words on paper. Short of implementation, they are all but meaningless.

Liberal democracy and rights and freedoms do not appear automatically. Man has to work to bring them about. The creation of a framework incorporating three branches of government with limits on the powers of each does not mean a system of checks and balances is established -- not if, in spite of their institution, one man or group of men dominates, influences, pulls strings from above.

Take the case of today's Cambodian system of government. James Madison would call it "tyranny" because one man, Hun Sen, the chief executive, and a group of men, the Cambodian People's Party, his party, control all three branches of government, making a mockery of international norms for an independent legislature and judiciary.

Following the signing of the accords, there were lavish self-congratulations and the touting of Cambodia's transformation as a "success story." Yet, the Cambodian People's Party, brought to power by Vietnam's 1978 military invasion, and propped up, since the 1979 routing of Pol Pot by Vietnam's troops, busily built its party power structures, organization and discipline, and forcefully pushed party interests ahead of the nation's interest.

The first UN-supervised 1993 general elections gave the mandate to govern to the democratically elected victor, Prince Norodom Ranariddh, but the CPP and Sen demanded that Sen, who lost the elections, be made co-prime minister of Cambodia, and that existing governing state institutions be co-governed.

And so, the country had a two-headed government, two armies, two systems, two policies. The 1997 military coup launched by Sen killed many and sent Ranariddh and his loyalists fleeing the country. This happened before the eyes of state signatories of the accords and of the United Nations.

American civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. said: "The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people." And British political philosopher Edmund Burke said: "All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."

Nearly 18 years after the accords, Cambodia has not become a liberal democracy nor do her people enjoy fundamental rights and freedoms. The failure has been a collective one, with Cambodians unable to work together and signatory governments' Cambodia fatigue leading them to want a semblance of political stability, even if they must turn a blind eye to rights violations.

It's in human nature in general to deny one's culpability in an unpleasant situation and to blame others for it. Yet each day that passes is one more day too many for the Cambodian people and their country to be denied what the accords promised.

Furthermore, an issue that could result in a hot war between Cambodian and Thai troops, neighbors to the west, over the Preah Vihear temple, has been left unsolved as soldiers eyeball each other, their fingers on the trigger, separated by only a few hundred yards. The accords' signatory states agreed to the maintenance, preservation and defense of Cambodia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and national unity. What does a bubbling conflict mean to them?

For the moment, absent open warfare, the world is content to let Cambodia remain under the control of a corrupt dictator. Still, in an authoritarian atmosphere, stable commerce cannot be expected to flourish; the economy will continue to benefit the few and consign the majority to the poverty that has become their norm.

There cannot be liberal democracy where fundamental rights and freedoms are not allowed. Innovation must be encouraged. "Outside the box" thinking must flourish; people must have the hope that the power to improve their circumstances is within their grasp.

After Cambodians learn to reconcile with one another, unlearn a culture that harbors generational memories of slights and disrespect, and move forward with self confidence, they may recall Buddha's teachings and practice them. At that juncture, the world community may feel it is in its interest to renew a commitment made long ago to Cambodia and her people.

A. Gaffar Peang-Meth, Ph.D., is retired from the University of Guam, where he taught political science for 13 years. Write him at peangmeth@yahoo.com.
Read more!

Major Sights and Attractions in/around Phnompenh

Cambodia's modern capital is a vibrant bustling city nestling majestically on the banks of the confluence of the two mighty rivers of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap. These rivers then split again as the Mekong and the Tonle Bassac at a place known to the Khmers as Chaktomuk, meaning four faces. Phnompenh is a veritable oasis compared to the modernity of other Asian capitals. With wide tree-lined boulevards and low-rise buildings Phnompenh still harks back to the colonial days of this former French playground and the many older French colonial buildings, much in evidence, add to the ambiance.

The area surround the Royal Palace has magnificent Khmer towers and remains particularly delightful. There are many open spaces and parks in the center which the locals use for recreation and relaxation. Pedaled rickshaws, called cyclos, still ply the streets as in colonial days and provide an excellent opportunity for sightseeing and people watching as well as the taxi service.

Major Sights and Attractions in/around Phnompenh

Silver Pagoda - Phnom Penh

Silver Pagoda (or the temple of the Emerald Buddha), formerly a wooden building, was rebuilt in 1962 in concrete and marble. The pagoda is floored with over 5000 silver tiles each weighing 1 kilo. It is famous for its 90 kg solid gold Buddha made in 1907 and an emerald Buddha said to be made of baccarant crystal. Sharing the pagoda are many other interesting artifacts and jewels and was one of the few temples to remain intact during the Khmer Rouge regime. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Entrance fee US$ 3 per person. Camera fee US$2. Video fee US$ 5. Photography is allowed in the outside exhibition areas only. Please remember that exposed knees and shoulders are considered disrespectful.

Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh, Cambodia






National Museum

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Designed by George Groslier and the Ecole des Arts Cambodgiens the National Museum was built in 1917 in traditional Khmer style and inaugurated in 1920 by King Sisowat. The National Museum houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer archeological, religious, and artistic artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. There are over 5000 pieces and is the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to the largest bat colony in the world living in an artificial structure. Every evening these bats flock out of the roof and swarm around in the sky before searching for food. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Photography is forbidden inside.


Royal Palace


Phnom Penh - Cambodia






Unfortunately the royal residence, set back from the riverfront, is closed to visitors but is still visible from the outside and well worth seeing, located as it is between the Silver Pagoda and National Museum.

Royal Palace - Phnom Penh - Cambodia


Wat Phnom (Hill Temple)

Phnom Penh - Cambodia


Silver Pagoda | National Museum | The Royal Palace | Wat Phnom | Tuol Sleng Museum | Killing Fields of Choeung Ek | Independence Monument | Tonle Sap Riverfront | National Library | Markets | Mekong Land | Kien Svay | Mo Ha Liep Resort Center | Udong | Phnom Chisor | Tonle Bati / Taphrom Temple

Located on a man-made hill twenty seven meters high in the middle of Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom is a revered place of worship for all Khmers and is the namesake of the capital. The original pagoda was built in 1373 to house four Buddha statues said to have been deposited by the waters of the Mekong. The temple is the focal point for many Buddhist ceremonies especially Pchum Ben and his highly revered by Phompenh residents. Wat Phnom has a unique atmosphere and is surrounded by various fortune tellers, mystics, faith healers and elephant rides around the site are available.


Genocidal Tuol Sleng Museum

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Tuol Sleng Museum, known as the Museum of Genocidal Crimes it was used by the Khmer Rouge as a detention and torture center in the late 1970. Today the building houses exhibits, paintings and photographs of many of the victims. Visitors can see the crude cells built in the classrooms and the torture devices used to extract confessions in Stalinesque purges of the regime. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.


Killing Fields of Cheung Ek

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Killing Fields of Cheung Ek is situated 15 kilometers south-west of Phnom Penh and made famous by the film of the same name "Killing Field". it was a place where more than 17,000 civilians were killed and buried in mass graves; many of them transported here after detention and torture in Toul Sleng. This place is a chilling reminder of the brutalities of the genocidal Khmer Rouge regime. In the center of the area is a 17 story glass stupa which houses 8000 skulls exhumed from mass graves. Open daily.

Note: Both Tuol Sleng Museum and the Killing Fields exhibits may be disturbing for some and aren't suitable for younger children and adults who are easily shocked.

Independence Monument

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Built in 1958 as a memorial to Cambodia's war dead after the gaining of independence from France in 1953, the monument, built in the Angkorian style, consists of five levels decorated with 100 snake heads. It is at its most impressive later in the afternoon with shadows highlighting the complexity of the design and giving the structure a warm orange glow.

Tonle Sap Riverfront

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

The recently refurbished riverfront park is the focal point for the Phnom Penh residents' leisure activities. Early risers can see the many locals welcoming the new day with Tai Chi and other exercises while the sun rises majestically over the river. In the early evening and all day Sunday many people stroll, picnic or just sit and watch the world go by. Local delicacies are served by vendors all along the riverfront and visitors can indulge in dried salted fish or another favorites, boiled duck embryos still in the shell.

National Library

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

It is located next to the Royal Hotel and just West of Wat Phnom. This graceful building, another example of French colonial architecture, built in 1924 and set in floral gardens was sacked by the Khmer Rouge and turned into a stable. Many of the discarded books were picked up by the locals who donated them back to the library after 1979. Open daily from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2:30 to 5 p.m.

Markets in Phnom Penh

Cambodia

Of the more a dozen markets in Phnom Penh many of them are little interest to visitors, selling, as they do, general household purchases in many of the districts of the city. There are, however, several centrally located markets of real interest to shoppers, browsers, and souvenir hunters alike. Be warned that nothing is priced and bargaining is a must.

Central Market is one of the largest and busiest markets in Phnom Penh. Built in 1937 by French architects and surprisingly cool, even in the heat of the hottest day, many interesting products are available. The eastern side, which is the main entrance, has many souvenirs and ornaments on sale from T-shirts to large stone heads. In the center are the many jewelry stores and precious stone vendors as well as a plethora of electronic goods merchants, cloth sellers and other dealers; most of them selling thing considerably cheap.

Toul Tom Pong Market (or Russian Market) is probably the city's best source of objects d'art. Items for sale include wooden and stone carvings, various ritual objects, silverware, and old Indochinese notes and coins. There is a large range of antiquities and curios for those prepared to ferret around the various stalls and there are also gold and silversmiths inside the market who can be seen custom making jewelry. This too is a good source of both Cambodian and Chinese Silk and Clothes. This is one of the most popular markets in Phnom Penh with foreign residents and tourists who can spend many an interesting hour browsing before choosing the perfect gift.

O'Russei Market on the North side of the Olympic Stadium is a typical Cambodian market catering to the every needs of the populace. Here the sights and smells of this market give the visitor the feel of a local market with many house-wives still purchasing their foodstuffs on a daily basis. This market is full of local character and one can only imagine the banter that takes place between all the vendors and customers. Here, is one of the best selections of the different types of fruit from all over the region, though the choice, naturally, depends on the season.

Olympic Market is probably one of the cheapest markets in town with lots of whole-saling going on here. It was renovated and re-opened in 1994 as a three story modern building with reportedly Cambodia's only escalators.

Mekong Land

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

A full day trip to Mekong Island is an excellent way to sample the daily lives and traditions of rural life in Cambodia. This ten hectare island has been planned as an authentic showcase of the cultural, zoological, and agricultural diversity and richness of Cambodia. The tour price includes transport, excellent lunch and a captivating show of traditional Cambodian dance. There are also elephant rides available on very friendly Asian elephants

Kien Svay

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Eighteen kilometers away from Phnom Penh, Kien Svay is the definitive Cambodian leisure resort. Every weekend many Phnom Penh residents get away from it all and relax by the water. Here they rent "Water Houses", covered platforms built on stilts sunk into the river, and picnic on the water. They are accessible by boat and the platform owners take you there and back. There are also relaxing boat cruises that take you around the resort area.

Mohabieb Resort Center

The recreation area is out of Phnom Penh on the route to Kien Svay. This is a large park where 70 kinds of fruit trees have been planted with all of them being labeled in English and Khmer. There is a large swimming pool and Khmer food is served daily.

Udong

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

An ancient capital from the latter stages of the Khmer Empire and crowning site of the king is located atop two parallel ridges 40 km north of Phnom Penh. Udong offers spectacular views of the surrounding country and the innumerable sugar palm trees that punctuate the countryside. King Ang Dung, the great grandfather of the present king; King Sihanouk, was crowned here and many locals and foreign residents alike picnic here on weekends.

Phnom Chisor

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

This ancient Khmer temple stands on an 80 by 100 km square plateau and faces East. Constructed in the 11th century of laterite and bricks with carved sandstone lintels, the complex is surrounded by the partially ruined walls of a two and a half meter wide gallery with inward facing windows. As with the other hilltop temples there are spectacular views of the surrounding countryside and Phnom Chisor makes an ideal excursion combined with Tonle Bati/Ta Prohm Temple

Tonle Bati / Ta Phrom

Phnom Penh - Cambodia

Not far South of Phnom Penh on the route to Phnom Chisor is a 12th Century temple, Ta Prohm, built by Jayavaraman VII (1181-1201). Consecrated to the Buddha and the Brahma, the temple is noted for its refined bas reliefs. Nearby is a smaller temple, Yeay Peau, which also has remarkable stone carvings. Near Ta Prohm is a small lake, Tonle Bati, which is similar to Kien Svay as a leisure resort though on a smaller scale. Again there are "Water Houses" for rent and various food stalls.

Siemreap and Angkor

The town of Siem Reap, the provincial capital, is a pleasant sleepy backwater serving as a base for visitors to the ancient capital of Angkor. With the recent completion of international standard hotels including the renovation of the famous Grand Hotel D'Angkor, the more than one hundred ancient temples and monuments in the vicinity can be enjoyed in style and comfort. Well organized guided tours ensure visitors make the most of their holidays regardless of length of stay. Though not essential, a well informed professional guide will enhance any tour, providing insight and history often not available in guide books. Many of the temples and best viewed at different times of the day due to their geographical orientation and the angle of the sun.

Cambodia - Southern Coast

Kampot

The pretty riverine town of Kampot is just five kilometers from the sea and serves the very popular seaside resort of Kep. Once a fashionable haunt of the French elite, it was known as La Perle de la Cote d' Agathe and has stunning offshore islands and a beautiful bay, King Sihanouk owned one of these islands and would often use it for entertaining. This region is famous for its production of durian, the foul smelling fruit, and reputedly has the best seafood in the country.

Kompong Som (Sihanoukville)

Kompong Som, Cambodia's only maritime port is 232 kilometers from Phnompenh and accessible via one of the best inter-provincial roads in the country. Kompong Som is not only a seaport but an area famous for its picture-postcard tropical beaches. Situated as it is on a headland, visitors can choose from a range of beaches, several of which can often remain completely deserted. The most popular are Ochatial beach and Sokha Beach due their immediacy to the town.

Local fishermen will take visitors to any one of the nearby islands where the coral, teeming with tropical fish, is perfect for snorkeling, diving, and fishing. There are many restaurants catering to various national tastes but its well worth trying the freshly caught crab, shrimps and other seafood the region has to offer.

The resort was established in 1964 and can be visited all year round to appreciate the warm sands, cool breezes and clear blue skies.

Bokor Hill Station

In keeping with the colonial practices of the time, many of the French elite, unwilling to become accustomed to the heat of Cambodian summer, retreated to the Bokor Hill Station set in the Elephant Mountains. At an elevation of just over 1000m it is famous for its pleasant climate, clear streams and tranquil surroundings. Visitors will be taken in by the stunning panoramas, forested vistas and breathtaking views of the sea. The best time to visit is between November and May.

Angkor Wat Tours (Siemreap)

Cambodia Travel

Enjoy your holiday in Cambodia with fascinating tour packages to the glorious Angkor Wat temples in Siemreap, Cambodia

Angkor Wat Stopover Tour - 2 Days / 1 Night

This stopover tour to Angkor Wat is suitable for travelers who has limited time to visit this magnificent temples and its surrounding.

Angkor Wat - Bayon - Siemreap (Cambodia) - 3 Days / 2 Nights

Travel to Siemreap and sightseeing around Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon) and other Khmer temples in 3 days.

Angkor Wat - Angkor Thom - Tonle Sap Lake - 4 Days / 3 Nights

Discover Cambodia with travel to Siemreap and visit the great Angkor temples such as Angkor Wat, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, etc. You will enjoy a scenic boat trip along the Tonle Sap Lake to see the fishermen's villages.

Angkor Wat - Tonle Sap - Banteay Srei - 5 Days / 4 Nights

This Cambodia Tour portrays the magnificent temples of Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon), Elephant Terrace, Phnom Bakhem and many more with the boat trip along the world's largest inland Tonle Sap Lake. Visit Banteay Srei, a renowned Khmer temples in Cambodia.

Angkor Wat - Tonle Sap - Banteay Srei - Ethnic Village - 6 Days / 5 Nights

Travel to glorious Angkor temples in Cambodia with tours to Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon), Terrace of Elephant, Grand and Small Circuits, Banteay Srei. Cruise along the world's largest inland lake of Tonle Sap in Cambodia to see the floating fisherman's villages. Coming to the closer touch with Cambodian people to see the local ethnic village.


Cambodia Travel - Angkor Wat Tours

This Cambodia Tours section covers the trip to Angkor Wat and other Khmer Temples with sightseeing in Phnompenh to Cheung Ek Killing Field and genocidal Tuol Sleng Museum.

Cambodia Travel: Angkor Wat - Phnompenh

4 Days - 3 Nights

Visit to one of the world's greatest wonders, the Angkor Wat and excursion around Phnompenh

Angkor Wat - Bayon - Grand Circuits - Phnompenh

5 Days - 4 Nights

Take your trip to Cambodia in 5 days with 2 nights in Angkor (Siemreap) and 2 nights in Phnompenh with excursion to the main attractions.

Angkor Wat (Siemreap) - Bayon - Roluos Group - Tonle Sap - Phnompenh

6 Days - 5 Nights

Travel to Cambodia and visit the main attractions in Siemreap such as the magnificent Angkor Wat, Bayon, Baphoun, Elephant Terrace, Grand and Small Circuits, Roluos Group. Enjoy beautiful cruising around the world's largest inland lake of Tonle Sap.

Apart from touring the Angkor or Khmer temples, you will travel to Phnompenh which is a capital of Cambodia. Sightseeing around the city to the renowned places such as Cheung Ek Killing Fields, genocidal Tuol Sleng Museum, Silver Pagoda and more.

Angkor Wat - Angkor Thom - Tonle Sap - Banteay Srei - Phnompenh

7 Days - 6 Nights

Exclusive Cambodia Tours to Angkor Wat and the Khmer temples, with boat trip along Tonle Sap Lake. Visit of Banteay Srei, Rolous Group with cruise to Phnompenh. Sightseeing around the city to the Cheung Ek Killing Field and genocidal Tuol Sleng Museum.

Cambodia Tours: Angkor Wat - Bayon - Banteay Srei - Tonle Sap - Phnompenh (Killing Field)

8 Days - 7 Nights

Discover Cambodia with the trip to Siemreap and excursion around the fascinating to Angkor Wat and other Khmer temples of Angkor Thom, Baphoun, Phnom Bakheng, Banteay Srei, Roluos Group, Grand and Small Circuits, with scenic cruise around Tonle Sap Lake. Onward trip to tour around the capital of Phnompenh to see Tuol Sleng and Cheung Ek Killing Field.

Travel to Cambodia with tours to Angkor Wat, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, Rolous Group, Tonle Sap, Banteay in Siemreap and Wat Phnom, Silver Pagoda in Phnompenh

Cambodia Tours: Phnompenh - Angkor Wat 3 days

This fascinating Cambodia Tours take you to visit the main attraction in Phnompenh such as Silver Pagoda, Wat Phnom, museum before travel to the glorious Angkor Temples in Siemreap.

Cambodia Discovery Tours - 4 days

Discover Cambodia - visit to Phnompenh and the surrounding before taking the boat trip to Siemreap. Sightseeing around the great Angkor Wat temples.

Cambodia Exclusive Tours - 5 days

Travel to Cambodia with excursion of its main capital. Continue to Siemreap by scenic river cruise and tour around the Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom (Bayon), Rolous Group and Tonle Sap Lake.

Premier Cambodia Tours - 6 days

Besides touring of Phnompenh, you will enjoy visiting the magnificent Angkor Wat Temples, Bayon, Elephant Terrace, Scenic boat trip around the world's largest inland lake of Tonle Sap, and the formerly forbidden Banteay Srei.

Explore Cambodia and the glorious Angkor Wat 7 days

Explore the charm of Cambodia in 7 days to Phnompenh and Siemreap. Tour around Angkor Wat, Angkor Thom, Bayon, Baphoun, Phnom Bakeng, Grand and Small Circuits, Elephant Terrace, Banteay Srei, Ethnic Village, and floating fisherman village of Tonle Sap.



















Read more!

Phnompenh - Angkor Wat Tours

This Cambodia Tours section covers the trip to Angkor Wat and other Khmer Temples with sightseeing in Phnompenh to Cheung Ek Killing Field and genocidal Tuol Sleng Museum.

Cambodia Travel: Angkor Wat - Phnompenh

4 Days - 3 Nights

Visit to one of the world's greatest wonders, the Angkor Wat and excursion around Phnompenh

Angkor Wat - Bayon - Grand Circuits - Phnompenh

5 Days - 4 Nights

Take your trip to Cambodia in 5 days with 2 nights in Angkor (Siemreap) and 2 nights in Phnompenh with excursion to the main attractions.

Angkor Wat (Siemreap) - Bayon - Roluos Group - Tonle Sap - Phnompenh

6 Days - 5 Nights

Travel to Cambodia and visit the main attractions in Siemreap such as the magnificent Angkor Wat, Bayon, Baphoun, Elephant Terrace, Grand and Small Circuits, Roluos Group. Enjoy beautiful cruising around the world's largest inland lake of Tonle Sap.

Apart from touring the Angkor or Khmer temples, you will travel to Phnompenh which is a capital of Cambodia. Sightseeing around the city to the renowned places such as Cheung Ek Killing Fields, genocidal Tuol Sleng Museum, Silver Pagoda and more.

Angkor Wat - Angkor Thom - Tonle Sap - Banteay Srei - Phnompenh

7 Days - 6 Nights

Exclusive Cambodia Tours to Angkor Wat and the Khmer temples, with boat trip along Tonle Sap Lake. Visit of Banteay Srei, Rolous Group with cruise to Phnompenh. Sightseeing around the city to the Cheung Ek Killing Field and genocidal Tuol Sleng Museum.

Cambodia Tours: Angkor Wat - Bayon - Banteay Srei - Tonle Sap - Phnompenh (Killing Field)

8 Days - 7 Nights

Discover Cambodia with the trip to Siemreap and excursion around the fascinating to Angkor Wat and other Khmer temples of Angkor Thom, Baphoun, Phnom Bakheng, Banteay Srei, Roluos Group, Grand and Small Circuits, with scenic cruise around Tonle Sap Lake. Onward trip to tour around the capital of Phnompenh to see Tuol Sleng and Cheung Ek Killing Field.

Read more!

Cambodia Map

Read more!

Rise and Fall of Khmer

Reasons for the rise of Angkor Empire

1) The adoption of Indian doctrines of deva-raja or "god-king"

The ancient Khmer kings adopted a successful monarchy system of Indian civilization as the replica. Being revered as the "god-king" or deva-raja, the Khmer kings were able to rule over the empire with divine kingship and absolute power. This enhanced the kings to mobilize large manpower to serve in its military force to defend the nation as well as to invade the neighbors. In addition, the kings could maintain their extensive irrigation system which was the prime factor of its successful economy with their Khmer laborers and foreign slaves.

Moreover, the kings surrounded themselves with the wise men or the "learned" Khmer Brahmins as their counselors. The Brahmins were known to have acquire vast knowledge which were inherited from father to sons or taught only within the family. These learned Brahmins help the kings to run an efficient administration of the country, and thus resulted in stronger empire.

2) Strategic Location

Well-chosen strategic location of the Angkor by its founder Jayavarman II hampered the attack by its potential enemies which enable its existence for over 6 centuries.

The Angkor was situated in the North of Tonle Sap Lake, and the only possible way for invaders to bring in a large enough troop to fight against the Angkor is by sailing upstream from the Mekong River. Geographically, the Angkor was protected by rugged thick forests from all sides. There were no well-developed roads, and the land access with large military force could turn out into a tragedy. The troops and weapons had to be delivered in a long line which could not support one another in case of being attack. A good example is the Persian invasion to the Greeks during the 4th and 5th B.C. Greece for instance was protected by high mountains. Although the Persian was far more superior and much more in number, it could hardly win over the Greeks.

When the enemies intended to attack the Angkor, they have to sail up from the Mekong River only to meet with the strong naval force of Angkor upstream. The enemy's battle ships moved slower thus became an easier target of being attacked and sunk. Throughout the history of over 600 years, Angkor lose only one major naval battle on Tonle Sap Lake to Champa in 1171.

3) Mastery over Water Control

The geographical location of the Angkor Empire itself faces two extreme seasons, i.e. the heavy rainfall during Monsoon and the dry period during the off-Monsoon season. Numerous large reservoirs, dikes, moats and ponds helped significantly to prevent floods over the farmland during the heavy rainfall in Monsoon and to conserve water storage for use during the dry season. The efficient and extensive irrigation system of the ancient Khmer enabled the empire to cultivate crops two to three times a year which led to high productivity and strong economy of the Angkor Empire.

Reasons for the Fall of Angkor Civilization

1) Introduction of Theravada Buddhism

The pillar of the Angkor Civilization was supported by the religious belief of Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism. The monarchs being regarded as the god-king were able to motivate the dedication of their people to serve the throne as a divine service. The empire's extensive irrigation system and military troops required massive laborers and manpower to maintain. The introduction of Theravada Buddhism in 13th century to the Khmers had turned out to hurt sublimely the basic foundation of the Angkor Empire in the long run. Theravada Buddhism taught the people to seek self-enlightenment, abandon worldly things and discourage any superstition belief which directly or indirectly means all deities and all evils. The sovereignty of the Angkorian monarch as a "god-king" or deva-raja was basically challenged.

2) Loss of Water Control

Less devotion of the people to the "god-king" led negative impact to the empire. The Khmers seem unwilling to work wholeheartedly for the king as a holy service as they had previously did. The formerly efficient irrigation and drainage system became silted up with less water supply and the rice crops, used to be cultivated two or three times a year, were dramatically dropped, thus weaken the productivity and the strength of the Angkor Empire.

3) External Threats

As neighboring states of the Angkor grew, they became a major threat to the empire, especially the Thai State of Ayuthaya in the Chaophaya River Basin to the West. In order to protect the empire, the Angkor had to direct portion of its manpower to secure strong armed forces, which in turn, deprived itself from giving good maintenance to its irrigation system.

4) Double-edged sword of Roads Network

The road network built by Jayavarman VII had aided the transports of products and trades throughout the empire and also facilitated the Khmer troops to quell its neighbors. It had became a double-edged sword when the Angkor became weak as the invaders could easily marched in through this road network, instead of previously sailing up from the Mekong River. This turned out to be true when the newly emerged Ayuthaya, a Thai kingdom in the West became stronger. They use this road to march from the Chaophaya River basin through Phnomrung (in Burirum of modern Thailand) and then through Aranyapathet to attack right at the heart of Angkor and finally sacked the empire in 1431. The glory of the Angkor Civilization was terminated since that time.

Read more!

Water Mastery

Mastery over Water

One of the major success of the Angkor Empire was due to its mastery over the control of water from the Mekong River. Being situated in the tropical Monsoon zone, the Angkor was subjected to a wet season with heavy rainfall during Monsoon and a dry season during the off-Monsoon period.

Due to their engineering genius, the ancient Khmer built extensive irrigation and drainage system in order to manage the excessive water from the flood. This water was stored in the huge reservoirs such as the East and West Baray, and irrigated to the farmlands during the dry period. In this way, the Angkor were able to cultivate and harvest rice crops two or three times in one year. Such a high productivity of rice crops in a year helped to strengthen the country's economy significantly, and thus enhanced its prosperity. This enabled the god-king of the Angkor Empire to mobilize large number of laborers and slaves to undergo temples construction, several of which required over ten thousands of laborers and took them from two to three decades to complete.

In addition, the Angkor kings were able to recruit manpower to serve in military which play a major role, not only in defending the throne, but in invading the neighbors. The Angkor kingdom expanded its territory vigorously and became a strong regional empire.

The two major reservoirs at the Angkor are the East and West Baray. The East Baray has long been dry whereas the West Baray is still in use today. Two more reservoirs had been discovered recently by the aerial photographs.

It was estimated by George Grosliers, a French archaeologist, that the total agricultural land of the Angkor Empire was about 70,000 hectares. Being used to cultivate crop two or three times in one year, the land was able to support the densely populated Angkor kingdom. This mastery over the water is one of the major factor for the rise of Khmer Civilization.

Read more!

Khmer Inscription and Language

The earliest written language to have been found in the region is in Sanskrit, an Indian sacred language. The writings were carved in stones which could be dated back to 5th and 6th century, which show a strong influence of the Indian culture over the indigenous people.

Sometimes later, the Khmer Language seems to appear with many of its characters and words derived from Sanskrit. An oldest stone inscription written in Khmer language were found to be carved in 612 A.D. as its text said.

The contents of these stone inscriptions which were housed in the temples were mostly concern with religions, its ritual and philosophy, Indian epics of Ramayana and Mahabharata, Kings' salutations and some poetic verses. Some of these stone inscriptions also list the assets which were owned by the temples and by the dignitaries as well as the different objects needed for ritual ceremonies. Although these assets and objects had long been disappeared, these listings served as another jigsaw in our quest for knowledge of the Angkor. Little things had been said about the ordinary life of the local people, however, these stone inscriptions had helped us to retrace the history of Khmer and to understand its political and cultural structure.

Around 1,200 stone inscriptions written in Sanskrit and Khmer had been discovered.

The inscriptions were careful engraved on the stone with a great work of real arts in order to show high respects to the gods of the temples. This could lead us to imagine that the Khmers were devout to their gods in whom they revered as their protector, and god's blessing would bring them prosperity.

Many Angkor temples had been found to contain the stone inscriptions in both languages - Sanskrit and Khmer, however, their contents could be differentiated into two distinct characteristics although both of them served for a religious purpose. Those inscriptions written in Sanskrit addressed more or less directly to the gods in term of religious prayers and rituals. Sanskrit is the sacred language of India and was maintained in the original form by the Khmers so that its value to their gods would not be deviated by any form of translation.

Generally, the Khmer inscription had its own distinction and the content was mostly a listing of assets, covering from paddy fields, cattle, objects and furniture, as well as the names of slaves which were owned by the temples. In many instances, some of the stone inscriptions were placed in the shrine by donors who could be the dignitaries or the elites of Khmer ruling class. These inscriptions could be varied, ranging from the listing of assets to some poetic verses.

According to Zhou Daguan in the Chinese annals, the ancient Khmers knew how to write on the latina leaves as well as by chalks on the animal's skin. Unfortunately, these materials seem to have been decayed over the past centuries due to damp weathers and insects.

It is hard to believe that such a high civilization of Khmer with a well-developed writing system would barely have any literature. Only three Khmer literatures are known since they were preserved in the stone inscription. Many literatures and other Khmer manuscripts, being written on unendurable materials other than on stone, are believed to have been lost with time, and some may have been survived until present day as local folklores.

Read more!

Influence of Indian Civilization on Khmer

The civilization in the Indian Subcontinent had been highly developed since ancient time. When trades became flourished between the East and the West, the Indian traders sailed to this region to establish Indian trading posts in order to collect goods and products during the off monsoon season. These traders brought with them their civilization, cultures, philosophy and religions, which were mostly appreciated and adopted by the less developed indigenous people.

The Indian post was somewhat unlike the "colony" during the colonial period, as it was rarely meant to involve in politics of the native land. The Indians were concerned mainly in trading and in collecting goods from the local to sell in distant lands.

The excavation at Eo Oc, a Funanese main port lying in South Vietnam today, revealed that the region was one of the prominent transitory points between the West and the East, and the trading connection between the two distant continents was well established. The unearthed artifacts at Eo Oc disclosed those goods originated from as far as the Roman Empire in the West and the Chinese civilization in the Far East.

During those days, the indigenous people were far less civilized than the Indian travelers and it was not surprising to find that they accepted many aspects from their foreign folks by which they deemed to be better and beneficial. One of these aspects were the religious and cultural elements of the Indian civilization. The natives adopted Hinduism as their religion and its gods Shiva and Vishnu were revered as their supreme gods. It was also found that the Brahmins, a learned caste of India, were invited into the royal courts to help in administration during the Funan period (1st century - 613 A.D) which was a predecessor of the Khmer civilization. In addition to the religious belief, the natives also learned the engineering skills such as the irrigation system as well as stone carving from the Indian Brahmins.

The extensive activities of Indian trading in the region seem to have ceased after the fall of the Roman Empire in 5th century, however, its relics were passed on to the next generations.

When the Khmer civilization evolved in early 9th century, the Khmer inherited several elements from its predecessor as well as those from the Indian civilization. Its first king Jayavarman II crowned himself as a deva-raja or "god-king" in 802 A.D, and his regime was more or less a replica of the successful Indian monarchy. Numerous impressive temples and monuments were built throughout the empire in successive centuries in order to praise the Hindu gods. These monuments are collectively known to us as the Angkor Temples (or Khmer temples), and the most famous ones are the Angkor Wat and the Angkor Thom (Bayon), both of which resided on the vast plain of Siemreap in Cambodia.

The process through which the Indian civilization had asserted a great influence upon another civilization was termed by the historians as "Indianization". However, the Khmer had never been fully Indianized as the term suggested. Although the Khmer adopted many aspects of Indian cultural and religious elements, the way of Indian life did not penetrate deeply into the root of Khmer civilization which was consisted of the laymen who still maintained their own way of life-style.

Read more!

Life of the Local Khmer People

The stone inscriptions found in the Angkor's region are mostly concerned with the religious related topics and rarely speak anything about the ordinary life of the local Khmer people. Only the stone carvings on the relief of Angkor Thom do portray some glimpses of the daily life in those days, however, most of our knowledge about the life of the Khmer laymen interestingly come from the Chinese Chronicle written by Zhou Daguan who was a Chinese ambassador of Yuan Dynasty. He visited the Angkor Empire in 1296 and traveled widely inside the kingdom for a year before his return. Residing with the local people in various circumstances, Zhou Daguan described quite an accurate picture about the life and activities of the laymen and enable us to project our imagination.

Zhou Daguan wrote that both men and women are breast-naked and barefooted with a piece of cloth wrapping around their waists. Ordinary females have no hair ornaments, but may wear golden rings on the fingers and bracelets on the arms. Beautiful women are always sent into the court to serve the king or his royal family....All trades in Khmer are carried out by women. In the market place, there is no shop, and the female vendors sell their goods and products on the mats which are spread on the ground. The space in the market is not free, and the rent must be paid to the officials.... the Khmer people do not have any table and chair in their house, and neither have the bowl nor the bucket. They cook their food in the earthen pots which are used for boiling rice and for preparing soup. The ladle sticks are made up from the coconut shells and the soup is served in a tiny bowl made up from the woven leaves by which the soup does not leak from the bowl.

In addition to Zhou Daguan's description, the relief carvings of Bayon add further views to the lively scene of the market. Many people walk to and fro; two bulls can be seen to pull an oxcart, some people carry their goods on the head, the dignitary on a palanquin carried by the servants, and some people ride on the horses. In the carving, well-dressed foreigners can be seen to walk among the local people.

As the palaces and the houses in the Angkor Empire were mainly made up on unendurable materials such as woods and thatched leaves, they left no traces to the present day, except the various Khmer temples which were built from bricks and stones. During those days, we can imagine the Angkor's capital such that the remarkable Khmer temples like Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom must be surrounded by the wooden houses, some with tiles on the roof while some only with thatch-leaves, and the people carried out their life in the market place. However, all these scenes had long been faded away; only the temples and the memory remain.

Read more!

Khmer Society

To glimpse into the Khmer Society, we can understand that the top of the hierarchy should have been the god-king or deva-raja, surrounded by his tutors who were brahmins, and also by the members of his royal family. The priests residing in the temples were also powerful as they seem to own many lands and the paddy fields.

The stone inscription found in many temples gave some glimpses to the donors whose names were written with the titles. These donors could have been the noblemen or the dignitaries of the Khmer's ruling class responsible for the administrative and judiciary tasks, however, their titles were unfamiliar to the historians and the hierarchical ranks were not known, thus it is difficult to draw a complete table of hierarchy for the Angkor Empire.

Since the economy of the Khmer civilization was based mainly on agriculture, the majority of the people should have been the peasants or the farmers living in the villages. It was not clearly certain that there were any small landowners in the kingdom since most inscriptions often referred to large landowners of the elite class or of the temples.

The lowest hierarchy of the Khmer civilization should have been the slaves. Interestingly, there were two types of slaves in the kingdom which are worth mentioning and distinguished. As previously discussed in the chapter of "inscription", some of the Khmer stone inscriptions were found to list the names of slaves who belonged to the temples. Since their names were carefully crafted and enshrined in the holy place, they could not have been the low class slaves as its word "slave" implied. The historians believed that they were actually the temple servants and the priests who were "the slaves only to the gods", and not to any human being. In reality then, the "actual slaves" were mostly the captives from the neighboring countries, however, it was found that the Khmer people themselves could fall into the lowest status of being a "slave" if they failed to pay their rents or loans to the upper ruling class.

Read more!

Religion - Khmer Civilization

Since the ancient time, the Khmers had accepted the two great religions from India, i.e. Hinduism and Buddhism, by which the former one was more popular. Hinduism had played an important role in Khmer civilization as the Angkor monarchs adopted its concept of deva-raja, or "god-king", by which the king was revered as an incarnation of the god Shiva, a supreme Hindu deity who was regarded as a protector.

Most temples in the Angkor Empire were dedicated to either god Shiva or god Vishnu. Believed to be the holy house of the supreme gods, the temples were carefully built with fine arts, and the materials used are those of everlasting stones. Many impressive sculptures of great craftsmanship were enshrined.

The second religion being revered by the Khmers was Buddhism of Mahayana sect which came into the region quite at same time as Hinduism, however, Buddhism was less prominent.

Both Hinduism and Mahayana Buddhism played an important role as the political, religious and philosophical pillars of Khmer Civilization by which the king was revered as the god-king or deva-raja. This ideology enabled the king to rule over the country as an absolute monarch with sovereign spirituality over his people, and thus enhanced the unity of the kingdom. Successive kings were able to mobilize large manpower to serve the army, to maintain extensive irrigation system and to build numerous massive temples.

Not until the 13th century, Theravada Buddhism was introduced to the Khmer from Sri Lanka and became more prominent in the royal court as well as in the local people. The teaching of Theravada Buddhism directly crashed with the original belief of the Khmer people as it taught the people to seek self enlightenment and abandoned the worldly things. With this teaching, the attitudes of the people towards its Hindu gods as well as the god-king changed, and thus led to the gradual weakening of the empire which eventually collapsed in the first half of 15th century.

The Khmer people seem to be the obedient students, as they did not raise doubts about the riligious teaching of the original doctrines. We can see in Khmer history that the religions such as Hinduism and Buddhism were not divided into the different sub-sects in the land of Khmer, as they were so in some other civilizations.

In addition to Hinduism and Buddhism, the Khmer people also had their own indigenous beliefs such as the local deities, ancestral spirits, as well as the evil spirits. There are no inscriptions or manuscripts to describe these beliefs, however, it can be found to be prevalent in modern Cambodia, especially in the remote villages. These beliefs are passed on from one generation to another through the words of mouth.

Read more!

Cambodia Chronology

Cambodia Chronology

Years Kings of Khmer

Major Events and Construction

1st-7th Century A.D. - Funan Civilization
550 A.D. - Chenla's Independence from Funan
613 - Chenla's conquest of Funan
657-681 Jayavarman I

-

7th century - Division of Chenla Kingdom and invasion of Java Empire
802-834 Jayavarman II Founder of Angkor Empire
834-877 Jayavarman III Prei Monti temple
877-889 Indravarman I Move capital to Roluos; construct monuments such as Preah Ko, and Bakong (Roluos)
889-910 Yasovarman I Move capital from Roluos to Yasodharapura with Phnom Bakheng as the capital center; construction: Lolei, Phnom Bakheng, Eastern Baray
910-923 Harshavarman I Monument: Baksei Chamkrong and Prasat Kravan
923-928 Isanavarman II

-

928-941 Jayavarman IV Built a new capital of Koh Ker
941-944 Harshavarman II

-

944-968 Rajendravarman II Khmer sacked Champa. Construction of Eastern Mebon and Pre Rup
968-1000 Jayavarman V Construction of Banteay Srei and Takeo
1001-1002 Udayadityavarman I

-

1002-1010 Jayaviravarman

-

1010-1050 Suryavarman I Struggle for power to succeed the throne with Suryavarman I's victory
1050-1066 Udayadityavarman II Construction of Baphoun, Western Mebon, and Western Baray
1066-1080 Harshavarman III

-

1080-1107 Jayavarman VI Built Phimai temple
1107-1113 Dharanindravarman I

-

1113-1150 Suryavarman II Construction of Angkor Wat, Beng Melea, Banteay, Samre, Chey Say Tevoda, Thommanon
1150-1160 Dharanindravarman II

-

1160-1165 Yasovarman II

-

1165-1181 Tribhuvanadityavarman Chams defeat Angkor in 1177
1181-1219 Jayavarman VII Angkor expelled Chams; extensive construction of roads and monuments such as Angkor Thom, Bayon, Ta Phrom, Banteay Kdei, Neak Pean, Sras Srang, etc
1219-1243 Indravarman II

-

1243-1295 Jayavarman VIII Mass Destruction of Buddha statues; Kublai Khan' Mongol invaded Angkor's border
1295-1309 Srindravarman Zhou Daguan visits Angkor between 1296-1297
1309-1431 Minor reigns Angkor Sacked by Thai Army; Glory of Ankgor ends in 1431
1432-1859 - Dark period of Angkor (rare historical accounts found)
1860 - Re-discovery of Angkor by Henri Mouhot
1863 - Cambodia became a French Colony
1907 - Siemreap (Angkor) and Battambang, previously Thai's territory, fell into the French hand.
1908 - Angkor Conservancy established by French
1908-1972 - Archaeological study and restoration of Angkor temples
1972 - Archeological activities stopped as civil war broke up
1975-1979 - Reign of Terror by Khmer Rouge
1979-1990 - Political unrest in Cambodia
1990-2000 - Modern Cambodia

Historical Background

Read more!

.0.

.0.

Blog Archive

 

we are khmer buriram

Khmer Mystery - Funan (The Lost City) part 1

Cambodian Genocide - Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge

I knew Pol Pot- 28 Jan 08- Part 2