In Conservation Work of Angkor Complex

Community Empowerment

in Conservation Work of Angkor Complex

Keiko Miura, who is engaged in fieldwork in Cambodia, has been working or involved in Siem Reap for more than six years. She contributed this article on the efforts of the local and foreign community in the area of conservation Thibaud Lepage

National and international framework of conservation of Angkor

Following the two decades of war and instability, and prior to the UN-sponsored national elections in Cambodia of May, 1993, Angkor was inscribed on the World Heritage List in December, 1992, when it was also declared a World Heritage Site in Danger for the probationary period of three years. This was the culmination of years of preparatory efforts made by the Cambodian authorities and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). Then, the World Heritage Committee (WHC) made an exceptional decision to temporarily lift normally required inscription conditions pertaining to national mechanisms for site protection.1 Further development concerning the conservation of Angkor heritage site was made through the Tokyo Declaration of October 1993, which led to the establishment of the International Co-ordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Historic Site of Angkor or ICC. Japan and France co-chair ICC, with UNESCO in charge of its secretariat. Ever since, the international conservation work in Angkor has been co-ordinated, and a framework to examine on-going projects and new ones has been established.2 Meanwhile, the legal framework for the conservation of the Angkor heritage site has been established by the Government of Cambodia, in co-operation with UNESCO and other international organisations. The foremost important one is Royal Decree 001/NS issued in 28 May, 1994, providing protection of cultural zones in the Siem Reap/Angkor region and guidelines for their management. Another important one is Royal Decree NS/RKT/0295/ 12 issued in 19 February, 1995, establishing a national authority for the protection and management of Angkor and the region of Siem Reap, named APSARA (Authority for the Protec- tion of the Site and the Development of the Region of Angkor). Other decrees concern the establishment of the Supreme Council on National Culture issued in 19 February, 1995 and the law on the protection of cultural heritage issued in 25 January, 1996. At the same time several sub-decrees have been issued: one specifies the Hotel Zone and the other one estab- lishes the special police corps for the protection of cultural heritage.3

SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 23 Despite the the 'other' stake- tage is unclear to the concerned fact that all holders' welfare parties, many even unaware that the efforts to and the miscon- it is considered as such. fulfill condi- ception of the UNESCO's 1972 Conven- tions neces- World Heritage tion concerning the Protection sary for a values of the site. of the World Cultural and Natu- World Heri- The current trend ral Heritage only briefly men- tage have is also directly in tions in Article 1 the definition been steadily opposition to the of 'cultural heritage' and in Ar- made, Cam- Royal Decree ticle 5 (a) measures to be taken bodia's frag- 001/NS guide- for the protection of the cultural ile peace pro- lines for the man- and natural heritage. The fol- cess necessi- agement of pro- lowing are excerpts of relevant tated the du- tected cultural parts from these two Articles: ration of the zones in the Siem probationary Reap/Angkor Article 1: For the purposes of period to be region. The this Convention, the following further ex- APSARA Author- shall be considered as 'cultural tended. In ity is a relatively heritage': rd the 23 ses- Thibaud Lepage young institution monuments: sion of the whose policies are groups of buildings:.... World Heritage Committee yet to be defined and potential- Sites: works of man or the com- which was held from November ity to be proved with time while bined works of nature and of other authorities and concerned to December last year, it was man and areas including ar- parties do not fully respect the decided that Angkor would re- chaeological sites which are of new management framework main on the List of World Heri- outstanding universal value and tend to act without prior tage in Danger. The Commit- from the historical, aesthetic, consultation with the APSARA tee asked to be kept informed ethnological or anthropological Authority. of the state of conservation of points of view. the site and current measures Angkor is not only a World relating to public and private Heritage Site but also a national Article 5: To ensure that effec- works, "so as to ensure that and regional heritage site. tive and active measures are such undertakings necessary Moreover, for the local commu- taken for the protection, conser- for the social and economic nity it is a heritage site of their vation and presentation of the welfare of the communities do direct ancestors where their his- cultural and natural heritage not have any adverse impact on tory, religious and spiritual be- situated on its territory, each the world heritage values of the liefs, and emotions are entwined 4 State Party to this Convention site." with memory, and which deter- shall endeavour, in so far as pos- mine their socio-economic ac- sible, and as appropriate for What is happening in Angkor is tivities of today. The conserva- each country: alarming in a sense different tion and management of such a from the anxiety of the World vast 'Living Cultural Heritage (a) to adopt a general policy Heritage Committee: the social Site' as Angkor are no easy which aims to give the cultural and economic welfare of the lo- tasks. To start off with, even the and natural heritage a function cal community is threatened by definition of living cultural heri- in the life of the community and

24 SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 to integrate the protection of tion of adversaries and positive When the French took that heritage into comprehen- efforts made towards commu- over Battambang and Siem sive planning programmes;5 nity empowerment. The analy- Reap from Thailand in the early sis here is mostly based on 20th century, approximately The International Centre extensive interviews conducted twenty families had been living for the Study of the Preservation in the local community around in Angkor Wat between the ex- and the Restoration of Cultural Angkor Thorn and Angkor Wat ternal wall and the moat from Property in Rome or ICCROM where the conservation work has the south side of the causeway states in Management Guide- been conducted intensively, as via south-west corner to the area lines for World Cultural Heritage well as the interviews with rel- around the south gate. At that Sites that one aim of conserva- evant authorities and interna- time, there were no monaster- tion is not to lower the living tional organisations. At the ies in Angkor Wat, and monks standards of the occupants of same time reference is made to were said to have been living on historic areas, and that the final ICC reports and other documents. the north and south side of Kda aim and the principles of conser- Baen (or the terrace in front of vation and restoration must be Traditional relationship the first gallery) and prayed in kept in mind; generally the mini- between the Angkor the Gallery of Thousand Bud- mum effective intervention has heritage site and local dhas. Then the French moved proved to be the best policy6 the monks from there to build community If the concerned parties monasteries within the com- recognise that community em- pound but further away from Angkor is foremost a spiritual the central building mass. powerment, the importance of and religious place for both the involving the local community in local community and Cambo- the conservation work, and dians as a whole. Angkor minimum effective intervention temples not only enshrine are the keys to successful con- Hindu or Buddhist icons but servation and management of a also house powerful guardian heritage site and manage the spirits called neak ta, at times site accordingly, Angkor still appropriating Hindu icons and has a chance to make an ideal other times natural objects, as model for the rest of the world well as bang bat or the owner to follow. spirit of ancient temples. Dur- ing war time in the early 1970s, To what extent the conservation large Angkor temples and work of the Angkor complex is Angkor Thorn became shelters Pun Phnom Ksach at the Khmer New Year, contributing to community em- for the local people who were 2000. Wat Tang Tok within Angkor Photn. powerment? The answer should fleeing from the fighting be- The sound mountains represent fire peaks of Mount contain, firstly, an understand- Meru. They are created to remove sins from tween the Khmer Rouge and the people and to receive good fortunes in return. ing of the traditional relation- army of the Lon Nol Govern- ship between the Angkor heri- ment. Angkor Wat, in particu- The people who were ex- tage site and local community; lar, represents the highest spiri- pelled from the compound of then, followed by examination of tual value as much as it is a na- Angkor Wat moved to live in the the conservation work and the tional symbol, but many also areas around it, most notably participation of the local com- recognise the universal value of South Teaksen village located to munity; and, thirdly, identifica- Angkorean legacy. the south of Angkor Wat and

SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 25 some in Trapeang Seh village to and fruit trees. Without doubt, land inside the city enclosure the west of Angkor Wat. Mon- Angkor Wat has played a highly and its moat, and collect forest asteries in Angkor Wat also important role in the spiritual products, including fruits and served as schools up to the third and religious lives and educa- resin of Yieng trees. grade although some studied tion of the local population as In the memory of senior there higher than the said well as sheltering them during villagers, some villages existed grade. The stupas of the two the war time. inside this ancient city, namely monasteries have also been Angkor Thom was the city Kok Ta Tru village, which lied housing ashes of their ances- of Jayavarman VII which lies to in the east of where Preah Se-ar tors. Monasteries had not been the north of Angkor Wat. Due Metrei monastery is presently constructed inside Angkor to the nature of its space, the located; Srah Srei village (some Thorn until the 1980s, so most relationship between the local call it Angkor Thom village) in people whose villages lie around the east of Srah Srei or the Angkor Thom also went to Women's Pond within the royal Angkor Wat monasteries for re- palace compound; Baoeng Ta ligious ceremonies, both secu- Trau village to the west of lar and religious studies, and for Bapuon; Baoeng Senthmie vil- the Khmer New Year (to enjoy lage to the south-west of the the New Year games and special royal palace; and Baoeng Thom performances of music, dance village at the south-west corner and theatre). of Angkor Thom. Some had to Many monks and care- leave Angkor Thom when the takers of religious statues in French arrived. Those who Angkor Wat are mostly from used to live near Srah Srei were the surrounding villages . The said to be related to the royal government had made several family, some of whom settled attempts to move the communi- down eventually in Angkor Krau ties of these villages elsewhere village, just outside the North away from Angkor Wat, but Gate of Angkor Thom, and oth- each time some refused to go, ers in Baray village and Kok Ta and the majority went back to Chan village in the south-west Wat Tang Tok within Angkor Thom. their original villages. In 1962, of Angkor Thom via Baoeng Ta The chief monk from Angkor Krau Trau village. Their descendants these villagers were asked to village is splashing holy water on a move by the government to the family of visitors. have inherited lands and trees west of Angkor Wat where the from some areas within this ancient city. military base is presently population and the city is more located, but some villagers did complex, with not merely reli- The moat of Angkor Thom not go, and others who had gious and spiritual significance has also been cultivated by the gone, returned in 1979. In 1991, but also socio-economic ramifi- people whose villages are the same villagers were ordered cations continuing from the past nearby. They are said to have to go to live in Dai Thmei village to the present. Some village inherited the land from their near Siem Reap, but many were origins go back to the royal ancestors. They say that these unable to make a living there court of Angkor Thom, whose fields were royal rice fields but and returned to their old village people have had customary some people were given land by sites where they had rice fields rights to cultivate some of the the king in exchange of 2kg of

26 SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 gold. The moat has different or fishermen in Tonle Sap to Prampil Lveng, all the other six names according to the section. make boats. The other people monasteries are headed by four In addition to the rice went to Siem Reap to sell resin villagers of Angkor Krau, one fields, many villagers of Angkor directly at a market or to fisher- from Trapeang Seh and the Krau, KokTa Chan, Baray - Kok men in Phnom Krom. The in- other one from Kok Beng. Beng, Kok Doung, and Tra come from the sale of resin Many of the monks who stay in peang Seh used to own Yieng constituted an important portion these monasteries and their trees with grey barks inside and of supplementary income for clients are from the villages outside Angkor Thom, from these families whose main occu- nearby, in addition to people which they tapped resin. The pation is rice farming. from Siem Reap and other prov- ownership of trees was passed In addition to the inherited inces. The caretakers of Bud- down from one generation to land and trees in Angkor Thom, dha statues at Bayon and Preah another, but it could be sold the local population in general Ngok Vihear are among the from one family to another with- used to collect other materials eight-precept followers of the out cutting the trees. For the that the nature of Angkor Thom local inhabitants. The majority local community, the forest of offered them. They included of the people are again from Angkor Thom was communal firewood, bamboo, rattan, rotten Angkor Krau. and they consider it as their trees, resin, vines, wild potatoes, heritage, thus it has been main- edible insects, herbal medicine, Some prominent Angkorean tained by these villagers who barks of trees, fish, crabs, and monuments and temples cared for young trees, and the birds. The cows there were also inspired interesting folktales, tapping of resin was conducted provided with plenty of grass to which enrich the mind of the regularly in a controlled man- eat. local population, and provide good explanations about how ner. The ownership of these Apart from the socio-eco- trees has been fairly well re- and when they came to be built nomic importance of the ancient and the reasons for the names spected. Some families owned city for the local community, the more than three hun- and specific features. dred trees while others Another important rela- less than a hundred. tionship between the Likewise, the forest in- Angkor monuments and side and outside Preah local community is that Khan had been main- the latter provided im- tained by the villagers portant labour forces of Angkor Krau. The to the restoration work villagers of Trapeang conducted by the Angkor Seh owned many Yieng Conservation Office trees in the east of (ACO) with French Angkor Thom near the managers from the be- Siem Reap river. While Thibaud Lepage ginning of the twentieth some resin was used to century till 1972 (some make torches for home con- religious and spiritual signifi- continued even after the depar- sumption and sometimes sold to cance has been enhanced after ture of the French conserva- their fellow villagers, the extra seven monasteries were recon- tors) and new and renewed resin was sold mainly through structed there in the 1980s. restoration and conservation middlemen to business people With the exception of Wat work in the 1990s. Some of the

SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 27 labourers might even be de- the sixteenth century had their As mentioned above, some scended from the original con- primary concern with Angkor families who used to live in the structors of Angkor monu- Wat as a living shrine rather compound of Angkor Wat were ments: at least the majority of than as a monument of historic moved by the French to live former ACO workers among importance. Dagens also sug- outside the moat. Likewise, them demonstrate their sense gests that "the few building the people who used to live in of responsibility to pass down projects which followed theirs, Angkor Thorn were moved out 'their' heritage to posterity in particularly those instigated by of the ancient city to live else- better conditions. the king of Thailand, were un- where. At that time there were dertaken in the same spirit."8 many robberies; and some say Conservation work and Likewise, the French who did that the French wanted the local community not want the monks to be living local people to live closer to one in front of the first gallery did another. The modification, addition, not expel them from the com- Concerning the conserva- restoration and conservation pound, recognising the impor- tion of Angkor, two types of work of various Angkor monu- tance of the reality of 'living' philosophy were used by the ments are known to have been temple. The labourers who French in the early period, implemented during and after have constructed these monu- which have been more or less the Angkor period through the ments are, however, little known followed in the renewed efforts studies of some experts in the to us, though it is evident that of conservation in the 1990s. fields of archaeology, architec- Angkor had a vast number of The most common type of con- tural history, art history and labourers and fine artisans to servation of monuments is epigraphy. The restoration of match the quantity and quality clearing scientifically to the Angkor Wat in particular, was of work. 'original' structure whereas inscribed on ancient stones Not many French sources those with ruins and vegetation, there by a certain Queen mention how they found having produced a mysterious local population around symbiosis, such as Ta Prohm, Angkor Wat and Angkor Ta Som and Neak Pean were left Thorn after 1907 when untouched. It is interesting to Angkor was returned by note that the latter type was in- Thailand to Cambodia, fluenced by the view of many together with the whole visitors to Angkor who opted for 10 of Siem Reap and Battam- mystery to history. Today, the bang provinces. Prior to World Monuments Fund's that, the French estab- project at Preah Khan clearly lished Ecole Francaise follows the path of the second d'Extreme Orient (EFEO) type, limiting the removal of in 1898 to study the his- vegetation to the level absolutely tory, language and archae- necessary. Thibaud Lepage ology of Far Eastern coun- Again, early French visi- tries, and in the same year tors to Angkor did not mention ACO was established very much the local community Mother, whose son undertook and has been managed by but the impressions, conditions, the restoration work in the six- EFEO conservators to conserve features, and styles of various 9 teenth century.7 The kings of Angkor monuments until 1972. Angkor monuments and their

28 SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 carvings and sculptures. How- conservators as to what has to sites and the number of work- ever, there are plenty of draw- be done to conserve them. ers are as follows:13 ings and photos available of the Among them, there are three local people helping the French generations of restoration work- 1. The World Monuments explorers to carry some of the ers who are proud and commit- Fund (WMF - American) sculptures down the river, clear- ted to their work. with the conservation work ing temple compounds or re- While all the former ACO at Preah Khan currently 11 storing them. One thing staff remember the substantial involving 60 workers. which has not changed much 2. EFEO, restoring Ba- between the past and the puon, employs approxi- present is that the local com- mately 200 workers. munity has provided much- 3. The Japanese Govern- needed labour forces to the ment Team for Safeguarding conservators of archaeologi- Angkor QSA) (restoration of cal sites in Angkor. the northern library of It is not surprising if Bayon and that of Angkor some of the present conser- Wat, and two towers of vation staff or restoration Prasat Suor Proat) employs workers are descended from A by-gone view of water buffaloes in the 73 workers. some of the original con- moat of Angkor Wat 4. The Sophia University struction workers and ex- Qapan) undertaking emer- perts of the Angkor period, income earned during the gency measures at Banteay as it is most probable that Sihanouk regime when the Kdei and restoring the part the majority of workers are French managed the conserva- of Angkor Wat Causeway, recruited from the local commu- tion work, today's workers are employs 35 workers. nity, in addition to the people finding it difficult to make any 5. The German Apsara Conser- who were captured as slaves savings though all recognise a vation Project (GACP) work- from the mountainous regions considerable improvement in ing at Angkor Wat employs or among indebted people, and their lives as compared to the eight workers. The Ger- those who were subjugated by 12 pre-employment period, without man/UNESCO Funds-in- Angkor rulers. Some of the employment opportunities. The Trust project at Preah Ko, workers, most notably former difference in the understanding which terminated its Phase ACO staff before 1975, are con- 2, hired 23 workers. scious of their ancestors' work of their heritage among differ- 6. The Chinese Government and have a strong sense of r e ent generations is stark: the Team for Safeguarding sponsibility for the conservation older generation is more con- Angkor (CSA), restoring of their ancestral heritage in or- cerned with the restoration Chau Say Tevoda, employs der to pass it down to the follow- work itself whereas the younger 34 workers. ing generations in good condi- one tends to regard it more as an opportunity for employment tions. Without doubt, the local * Recently, the Indonesian team and a source of income. community of Angkor has has completed the restoration served as a pool of labourers At the present time, there project of the gates of the Royal and artisans for a long time. A is a variety of international res- Palace. They hired 32 workers. few outstandingly dedicated toration/conservation teams workers see Angkor monu- working in Angkor. On-going The distribution of vil- ments from the viewpoints of project teams with their project lages, from which the workers

SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 29 have been re- and serious critics of cruited differ ac- today's conservation cording to the work. team: some from the same village Adversities as the chief of and positive labourers, and APSARA workers clearing the grass in front of the Royal Terrace efforts made others from a va- towards riety of villages. community empowerment As a priority, most of them have some uneasiness between the been recruited from the local two groups. Nonetheless, most Community empowerment had, community. Some teams such people interviewed in Angkor to a certain extent, been pro- as WMF and EFEO sought Krau, from which many resto- moted by the United Nations out more former ACO staff with ration labourers of JSA, WMF, Volunteers' project, entitled previous experience in restora- CSA and EFEO have been re- "Community Participation and tion/conservation work at the cruited, recognise some im- Development of Protected initial stage. provement in life in general Areas", which started in 1995 The APSARA Authority since four to five years ago. and terminated in April, 1999. has employed 200 to 300 site They also recognise the im- The project was created by UNV maintenance workers (the num- provement in the village, with in collaboration with UNESCO. ber of workers fluctuates ac- more motorbikes, TVs, tape- The aim of the project was cording to the month) and 74 recorders, rice mills and some to implement an integrated approach to community devel- guards (35 in Angkor Wat, 30 in students being able to further opment and natural resource Angkor Thom, 3 at Ta Nei, and their education in Siem Reap management with villagers 6 at Kbal Spean) from the local beyond the primary school in community.14 While some living in and around Angkor the village as compared to 1995 APSARA workers prefer to work Park, using a Participatory when there were no children with international restoration/ Action Research (PAR) method- who could further school edu- conservation teams because of ology. It was succeeded by a cation. better income, others are just project entitled "Sustainable happy to be able to work with It is interesting to note that Community Participation in the national authority for the the chief monks of aforemen- Angkor Park" in May, 1999, of conservation and maintenance tioned six monasteries in which organisation was con- of the Angkor complex, which Angkor Thom and many achar verted to a local NGO called are expected to be able to offer (intermediary between monks Angkor Participatory Develop- them jobs for a longer time than and lay persons to officiate reli- ment Organisation or APDO as international restoration/con- gious ceremonies) and their as- of 1 May 2000, which is to be servation projects. sistants used to be restoration supported by UNV for one year. The project aimed at strength- In the villages with em- workers of A C O . This situation ening local level institutions to ployees of restoration/conser- in Angkor is considered fairly allow community development vation projects, there is a grow- unique in the world - once and natural resource preserva- ing gap in wealth and life-styles physical labourers to conserve tion and conservation activities between those who are becom- cultural heritage, they are now to continue and expand after ing better-to-do and those who preservers of spiritual and UNV phased out its assistance, remain poor. Naturally, there is moral life and quiet observers

30 SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 and deepening the level of com- This is also complementary to Likewise, international munity participation. It initially the UNV-APDO project. Some NGOs and UN agencies have worked with seven villages lo- teams had a target of recruiting contributed to community em- cated in the Angkor Park, which labourers from among those powerment to a certain extent, has further been extended to who had former working expe- by improving the community eleven villages in total. Perhaps rience with the French conser- life in and around Angkor, the most important contribution vators through ACO, prior to through projects of road repair, of this project is that of placing 1975 and those from poorer agro-forestry, promotion of lit- the local community as the main families. eracy, public hygiene, construc- actor in community develop- Among them the World tion of wells or dams, and recon- ment, leading them to recognise Monuments Fund (WMF) leads struction of school buildings. their own available resource the other restoration/conserva- Projects more specifically rel- and formulate plans to imple- tion teams in promoting the evant to the conservation of ment small-scale village-based active involvement of the local heritage sites, such as clearing activities. These activities were community in the conservation the vegetation of the moat of implemented through Volun- work of Preah Khan. They Angkor Wat or temple sites, had tary Village Development Com- organised a Cultural Heritage been formerly implemented mittees (VDC) and Activity Management Workshop from by the International Labour Committees (AC), a cellular 28 February to 12 March, 2000, Organisation (ILO) with food structure created by them in inviting the key stakeholders donation from the World Food the target villages. VDC and AC as trainees, including heritage Programme (WFP), which was members are also helping resi- police and staff members of transferred by the end of 1999 dents of other villages with VDC Sokimex (a controversial private to the APSARA Authority with formation, PAR and other devel- company in charge of collecting some financial and technical opment activities. One VDC entrance fees to the Park). support from ILO.17 member commented that WMF is planning a smooth In fact, the APSARA Au- the UNV project had helped hand-over of the Preah Khan thority is the organisation which strengthen the unity of his site to local management over has been expected by most to village, and people had learnt the next five years, while ensur- play the key role in community how to organise themselves. In ing the continuity as a living empowerment in the conserva- addition, the project is helping heritage site, operating in har- tion work of Angkor complex. to promote the mutual help and mony with and for the benefit of The effective operations of the communications among the the local community, and aiding 15 APSARA Authority have, how- villages in the Angkor Park. and enhancing the cultural ever, been "fettered by a lack of Although community em- continuity of the community. funds, the inability to recruit a powerment is not the main ob- It has established strategies for competent senior management jective, various international res- involvement of the local commu- team and organisational weak- 18 toration or conservation teams nity, learning from the work- nesses in its departments." operating in Angkor have indi- shop that there was a strong External factors which have also rectly been contributing to the feeling that local people should indirectly contributed to this improvement of the socio-eco- be involved in major decisions state of APSARA include the nomic lives of the communities on the management of the site country's political events of 5 in the Park from the viewpoints and should, if possible, benefit and 6 July, 1997 and a devastat- from legitimate commercial ing financial crisis in East and of economic benefits and on-site 16 job training of their labourers. activities relating to the site. Southeast Asia in 1998. With

SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 31 the establishment of the new vation work in a much more vis- firearms or shooting in the air. government in late 1998 and the ible and substantial way. Although he had assured them following dissolution of the While the APSARA Au- that the cultivation of rice fields Klimer Rouge faction, Cambo- thority has not yet set out its in the moat would be allowed, dia has regained much needed policies clearly to the concerned the villagers of Kok Doung were parties, the heritage police has forbidden to cultivate their land Children of Angkor Krau Village with recently taken initiatives in 'con- in the south-east moat and a hind view ofTrapeany Ta Chey - trolling' the activities of the lo- southern side of east moat, north - western moat of Angkor Tliom cal inhabitants and those who which constitutes the majority which they still cultivate. work in the Angkor Park, based of their land. Those who used on the decree No. 21 issued by to cultivate the northern side of the Council of Ministers in 18 the east moat was also banned March, 1985 and another de- from cultivating the land there. cree issued by the Council of There have been reports of Ministers in 1992, twenty-two other troubles between the po-, duties of the police issued by the lice and the local inhabitants provincial governor on 31 Janu- concerning the cultivation of ary, 1996 and sub-decree con- certain land outside Angkor cerning twelve obligations of Thorn but within the protected the heritage police No. 60 issued zone. Moreover, the logging of in 8 October, 1997. However, trees in the protected area were the new chief of the heritage carried out mostly by both the police seems to have misinter- Cambodian and Vietnamese preted what the international military in the late 1980s, which community expect of Angkor has caused a great loss to the and all the laws, some of which local community as they not are no longer valid, in order to only lost their own trees but also tighten its control over the ac- have to pay for the conse- tivities of the local community quences. An important implica- and attempt to find justifications tion of the ban is that the villag- for it. ers were not consulted and provided alternatives. Such action Just before the Khmer is endangering the socio-cul- New Year in April 2000, the heri- tural continuity and caused a tage police chief summoned the loss of income for the local com- chiefs and vice-chiefs of villages Ta Riet - south-eastern part of the moat of munity. Angkor Wat which had been cultivated for around Angkor Thorn to attend many decades (and probably centuries) is no a meeting at Srah Srei; and de- Realising that tensions longer allowed to be cultivated. The left side is livered an order from the gov- the wall of Angkor Tliom. were emerging between the lo- ernment to ban the villagers cal community and the heritage stability and international from felling trees, collecting police, the APSARA Authority investment to the country. resin or any other forest prod- organised on 20 July, 2000 the The APSARA Authority also ucts, cultivating rice, entering first meeting with all the stake- reorganised itself and received Angkor Thorn with any cutting holders to discuss the exploita- a budget of US$800,000 for instruments or catapults, releas- tion of natural resources in 199919 when it began its conser- ing cows for grazing, bringing Angkor Thorn and other pro-

32 SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 tected areas. The invitees in- speak out about their respective among conservators and man- cluded Buddhist monks from concerns. The most important agers, of Angkor heritage site, the seven monasteries inside point here is that the villagers who tend to concentrate on con- Angkor Thorn, a representative were for the first time allowed cerns relating to the protection of Siem Reap Province, repre- to talk about their situation in of both cultural and natural heri- sentatives of the heritage police, front of policy-makers and the tage, at the expense of the local representatives of fifteen vil- authorities in the presence of community. While the World lages around Angkor Thorn, se- foreigners and Cambodians Monuments Fund is expected to lected organisations whose working in the villages. The assume an active role in commu- work is conducted with the lo- APSARA Authority plans to nity empowerment through the cal community in the area such have regular meetings with the conservation work in Preah as FAO, JSA, APDO and some same stakeholders. One ex- Khan, which is aspiring to set a 20 foreign researchers. The pects to see the development of model for the rest of the Angkor APSARA Authority emphasised a mechanism in which the local site, a minority of international the fact that it, alone, cannot community is not excluded from organisations and researchers conserve the precious cultural policy-making in the conserva- is there to mediate between property and natural resources tion work of the Angkor Com- antagonistic parties. The work for posterity without the co-op- plex, and no longer bear the on the Angkor complex demon- eration of the villagers, the heri- brunt of the negative aspects of strates a classic case of a huge tage police, and other Cambo- inappropriate conservation poli- gap between ideals and reality, dian authorities. The chief of cies and implementation. and differing interpretations heritage police emphasised that among a variety of stakeholders he was a child of Angkor and Conclusion on how the heritage site should was following the laws, and that be managed. All in all, one any wrong-doers would be ar- The conservation work of expects that the concerns of all rested, including the police. Angkor Complex has been pro- the stakeholders can be taken Several village representatives moted to a great extent in the into consideration, and a good appealed to the authorities that 1990s, especially after the ICC balance between the protection the livelihood of many families framework of assistance was of natural and cultural heritage in their villages depend on the established in October, 1993. and the needs of the local cultivation of rice fields inside The process of community em- community can be sought. To Angkor Thorn, and would like powerment, on the other hand, conclude, it is not difficult to assistance. The organisations takes time and have serious ob- surmise that the community's working in the protected area stacles as mentioned above. It active participation and its and researchers generally sup- has also been delayed, in a ma- empowerment are the keys for port the villagers, pointing out jor part because of the slow successful conservation and the huge discrepancy between peace process of Cambodia, and management of the living heri- what was recommended in the subsequent delays in the estab- tage site of Angkor. Royal Decree and what is actu- lishment of the APSARA Au- ally taking place. As the thority as a truly effective APSARA Authority's represen- organisation in the conservation tative suggested at the begin- and management of Angkor ning, nothing was decided but complex. At the same time, the at least all the concerned parties concern over community em- could have the opportunities to powerment is relatively low

SPAFA Journal Vol. 11 No. 1 33 Notes of Rural Development, APSARA, at the Department of Area UNDP, UNV, Bonn. Studies, SOAS, in Area Studies UNDP. UNDP Project Brief on United Selected bibliography (Southeast Asia), in which the Nations Volunteers work with major discipline was art and local communities to conserve and APSARA. 1998. Angkor: A Manual for develop the Angkor World archaeology of Southeast Asia the Past, Present and Future. Heritage Site. (sub-disciplines included Phnom Penh. UNESCO. 1972. Convention Concerning social anthropology of 2000. APSARA Authority the Protection of the World Southeast Asia, and Khmer Activity Report: June 1999 to June Cultural and Natural Heritage: language. 2000. Paper presented to ICC Adopted by the General Conference Plenary Session held in Phnom at its seventeenth session, Paris, 1 See ICC. 1998 Annual Report of Penh, Cambodia, on 20 June, 16 November 1972. Paris. Activities. Phnom Penh: UNESCO. 2000. World Monuments Fund. 2000. Preah 1998:10-11 and APSARA. Angkor: A Chou, Ta-kuan. 1967. Notes on the Khan Conservation Project The Manual for the Past, Present and Customs of Cambodia. Bangkok: Cultural Resource Management Future. Phnom Penh. 1998: xv-xix. Social Science Association Press. Course. A Summary for 2 ICC. Ibid. Pp.14-16 and APSARA. Dagens, B. 1995. Angkor: Heart of an Presentation to the ICC Plenary Ibid. P. 170. Asian Empire. London: Thames Meeting - 20th June - Phnom 3 APSARA. Ibid. Pp. 212-249. and Hudson. Penh. 4 Delaporte, L. and Garnier, F. A APSARA. APSARA Authority Activity Report: June 1999 to June Pictorial Journey on the Old 2000. Paper presented to ICC Mekong: Cambodia, Laos and The above article is an edited version Plenary Session held in Phnom Yunnan. Bangkok: White Lotus. of a paper presented at the Seminar on Penh, Cambodia, on 20 June, 2000. Feiden, B.M. and Jokilehto, J. 1993. Southeast Asian Traditional Architec- P.l Management Guidelines for ture held in Bangkok, 24 to 30 July, 5 UNESCO. Convention Concerning World Cultural Heritage Sites. 2000 the Protection of the World Cultural Rome: ICCROM All photographs by Keiko Miura except and Natural Heritage: Adopted by the ICC. 1998.1998 Annual Report of those credited lo Thibaud Lepage General Conference at its seventeenth Activities. Phnom Penh: session, Paris, 16 November 1972. UNESCO. Paris. Pp. 80-81. ILO. Report on the ILO Angkor The Writer 6 Feiden, B.M. and Jokilehto, J. Clearing and Cleaning Project. Keiko Miura is currently Management Guidelines for World Phnom Penh. involved in fieldwork in Cultural Heritage Sites. Rome: Jacques, C. and Freeman, M. 1997. Cambodia as a Ph.D candidate ICCROM. 1993:3-11. Angkor: Cities and Temples. 7 for the Department of APSARA. Ibid. R xvi. London: Thames and Hudson. 8 Sociology and Anthropology, Dagens, B. Angkor: Heart of an Mouhot,H. 1868 (First Edition). 1989. School of Oriental and African Asian Empire. London: Thames and Voyage dans les Royaumes de Hudson. 1995: 172. Siam de Cambodge, de Laos et Studies (SOAS), University of 9 London, England. For three Rooney, D.F. Angkor: An Autres Parties Centrales de Introduction to the Temples. llndo-chine. Geneve: Editions years (between 1995-1998), Bangkok: Asia Books. 1994:38. For Olizane Collection Objectif she was in charge of the general reference, see also Dagens, Terre. Culture Unit at UNESCO op.cit. Rooney, D. F. 1994. Angkor: An Cambodia as Culture 10 Dagens, B. Ibid. P. 173. Introduction to the Temples. Programme Specialist; and 11 See illustrations and photos in Bangkok: Asia Books. prior to that, performed work Dagens, Ibid. Mouhot, H. 1868 UNDP/UNV. 1999. Sustainable (First Edition). 1989. Voyage dans les Community Participation in in ethno-archaeology for the Royaumes de Siam de Cambodge, Angkor Park CMB/98/V04 Japanese Government team de Laos et Autres Parties Centrales Progress Report 1" May -31" July for Safeguarding Angkor de 'Indo-chine. Geneve: Editions 1999. Prepared to the Ministry QSA). Keiko also has an M A Olizane Collection Objectif Terre.

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