Upset on Social Media Over Alleged Angkor Wat Copy in Thailand

[CEOCambodiaNews]

There has been much outrage on Cambodian social media recently concerning reports that an Anchor Wat replica is being constructed in Thailand. For the moment, the Cambodian authorities call for calm while they investigate the case.

Cambodia Investigating the Angkor Wat Replica Case in Thailand
AKP Phnom Penh, July 06, 2021 --

The Royal Embassy and consulate of Cambodia in Thailand in cooperation with the Thai side has been conducting an investigation into the construction of a temple in Buriram province of Thailand claimed by many as a replica of the renowned Angkor Wat Temple of Cambodia.

“For this case, we need to conduct detail investigation because some temples in Thailand have similar style to Angkor Wat, such as Phanom Rung Temple in Buriram province. Therefore, the Embassy and consulate of Cambodia in Thailand must study the case, we cannot react immediately because we have not known yet whether or not the construction copies the architectural style of our Angkor Wat Temple,” H.E. Koy Kuong, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation told AKP this morning.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia will follow closely this cases, he underlined.

For his part, H.E. Long Ponnasirivath, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said the ministry, especially the APSARA National Authority, is following and studying the case focusing on the style and layout of the under construction temple.

“We need to gather detailed information first. As I know, our consul in Thailand will arrive the construction site this afternoon. We are waiting for information from him […],” he said.

In case that temple copies the Angkor Wat’s architectural style, he stressed, Cambodia will use the diplomatic mean by sending a letter to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the country has done in the previous cases.

Yesterday, pictures of the Angkor Wat-like temple being built in Buriram province bordering the Cambodian province of Oddar Meanchey has been shared widely on social media and attracted attention of many Internet users who demanded actions from concerned authorities.
- AKP

[Brody]

There has been much outrage............ call for calm.................. demanded actions

Thailand is a 'sovereign nation'.

That's a term Cambodian officials love to throw around when Western nations try to make sociopolitical suggestions to the Kingdom.

What is Cambodia trying to do exactly........tell Thailand what to do on their own soil?

Please tell me that the mighty Khmer people are not that thin-skinned.

[Bitte_Kein_Lexus]

I don't understand why it's not ok for them to borrow from the "architectural style", but it's alright for Koh Pich to borrow from French Baroque...

[Josideb]

These people need to calm down. Many historical sites across the world have been copied in other countries. I can't remember how many times I've seen the statue of liberty or the Eiffel tower. Shit theres whole theme parks based on different countries. I went to a Spanish theme park once which had copied loads of famous Spanish buildings.

Tale of the story is... If people want to see the real thing then they will.

[John Bingham]

[Anchor Moy]

All over the world, Angkor Wat is admired as a WORLD heritage site, and rightly so. Copying Angkor Wat, in whatever form, shows that it is regarded as an important piece of world civilization in other countries.
If I was Cambodian I would be proud to see how many countries think that this site is so important that they want to have a replica. Be proud and not afraid.

IAD Blog
April 30, 2021
Build Your Own Monument: Angkor Wat

While constructing a replica of Angkor Wat as part of this year’s Build Your Own Monument competition was clearly intimidating for some, one family from Las Vegas, Nevada excelled at it. We received one submission from the Cain family (children are 12 and 14) that was a spectacular representation of Angkor Wat made of natural materials.

Cain Family (children ages 12 and 14)
Las Vegas, Nevada
Materials used: nature items

Celebrity judge Dougald O’Reilly shared, “The entrant has made a great effort using natural materials to recreate the splendor of Angkor Wat in the Families category with the majestic towers represented by pine cones and even a gopura or gateway!”

Congratulations to the Cain family for putting together a great submission! They will receive an AIA prize pack.
https://www.archaeological.org/build-yo ... ngkor-wat/

[John Bingham]

How dare they! The Cain family can expect a death squad to arrive at their residence sometime soon.

[ofparadise]

I don't think it's that simple considering the strange Preah Vihear skirmishes. This is probably another boring attempt by both sides to get some national airtime and stir up some, hopefully, friendly banter between the neighbours. You know, some branches of the public service have been neglected by the press for a few years now. Give them a chance to get the promotions they need. Cambodians and Thai's are smarter than that. Sometimes having a clown in the room, is just fun.

There has been much outrage............ call for calm.................. demanded actions

Thailand is a 'sovereign nation'.

That's a term Cambodian officials love to throw around when Western nations try to make sociopolitical suggestions to the Kingdom.

What is Cambodia trying to do exactly........tell Thailand what to do on their own soil?

Please tell me that the mighty Khmer people are not that thin-skinned.

[Pizzalover]

I would be surprised if the Thai government would be behind it. They have done their best to replace Isaan stupas with their 'national' standard ones in order to demonstrate their supremacy over Laotians and Khmers. In Surin the government built a large temple, BKK style. The locals reacted with decorating their roofs Khmer style and making sure it was higher than the bkk stuff.
If this is the local Khmers' work then it is a show of defiance against the military and the Thai vaccine entrepreneur from Bavaria. An assertion of their collective identity and promise for things to come. In other words, it is important to get the context right. Khmers in Surin told me that Angkor is their city, not BKK. Next Buriram province is Khmer heartland (southern part of the place) and a walk through Buriram town will show you that the people take pride in it.
The yellow shirts protesting on the other side of Preahar Vihar temple were the people from Bangkok. Stupid nationalists who would give their last drop of blood (purchased as a discount at the Thai Red Cross) to protect every inch of Thai territory. it was not Thai territory as the international court ruling showed.

The Khmers are the bottom of the social ladder in Thailand. Visiting the area one can meet small shop owners in little villages that have a keen interest in the history of their ancestors. The people organized a local stone age museum rather than handing their finds over and seeing them depart for BKK. Very impressive.

[John Bingham]

The powers that be have decided it isn't a copy of Angkor Wat after all:

UPDATE: Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts: ‘Thai Angkor’ does ‘not copy the design or build in the same architectural style as the temple of Angkor Wat’

https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50889223/m ... ngkor-wat/