Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts issued a statement on March 14 about protecting Khmer cultural heritage and public responses to information. It followed the ministry’s observations of comments on Thai social media and statements by some Thai politicians concerning traditional clothing and objections to presentations of Khmer culture.
The ministry said Cambodia’s rich tangible and intangible Khmer heritage, including traditional clothing and cultural arts, had clear historical and archaeological evidence. It highlighted the sbai, an important part of Khmer women’s dress used in traditional outfits and weddings, particularly the “Preah Thong Taong Sbai” ceremony, whose origins it linked to Khmer civilisation dating back to the Funan period.
The ministry said Khmer people had preserved and practised this tradition across generations to the present. It had become an important part of national customs, carrying heritage from the past through the present and into the future.
The ministry called on Cambodians to remain calm, uphold national honour and dignity, and respond responsibly and with high cultural ethics. It urged them to continue standing on historical truth and the strength of national culture inherited from ancestors over thousands of years.
It stressed that cultural heritage should not be used as a political instrument to inflame society or intensify racial discrimination. Instead, culture should serve as a bridge for understanding and mutual respect.
The ministry also called on cultural and educational institutions and public authorities in ASEAN member states to cooperate in promoting accurate historical understanding and respect for each other’s cultural identities in the spirit of the ASEAN Community. It said Cambodia remained committed to protecting its heritage while strengthening international cultural cooperation and respecting other countries’ cultural values and the diversity of Southeast Asia and the world.
Written by Nget Pisant
