Cambodia Rakes Up Angkor Wat Replica Issue With India

[geovalin]

Phnom Penh: Cambodia today asked India to "completely stop" a private trust's plans to build a 'replica' of the world's largest Hindu temple Angkor Wat in Bihar, saying it would affect the country's prestige.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Hor Namhong raised the issue during a meeting with India's outgoing Ambassador to Cambodia Dinesh K Patnaik.

"The deputy prime minister said Angkor Wat temple is the national symbol of Cambodia and requested Indian government to completely stop the company's plan to build the replica of Angkor Wat temple," which would affect Cambodia's prestige, state-run AKP news agency reported, quoting foreign ministry spokesman Chum Sounry.

"The issue was indeed raised, but I would repeat what Kumari Selja (then Culture Minister) said in 2012 in Parliament that the promoters of the temple will not make a replica of the Angkor Wat," Mr Patnaik told PTI over phone from Phnom Penh.

Mr Patnaik, who promised Namhong to convey Cambodia's request to the government of India, said Patna-based Mahavir Mandir Trust is yet to acquire land for its dream project.

"The trust people have assured us that the project is inspired from a number of temples worldwide, including the Angkor Wat, and that they will try not to replicate it," he added.

In June, Cambodia said the proposed temple "seriously violates" the Angkor Wat, the 12th century world heritage property, which holds exceptional and universal value and is also the country's most popular tourist destination.

Meanwhile, construction of the 'Viraat Ramayan Mandir' has still not begun due to the diplomatic hurdles.

Kishore Kunal, secretary of the Trust said there are "inspirations from Indian temples, including Konark and Shore temples, besides Pashupatinath Temple in Nepal and Pantarama Temple in Java" besides Angkor Wat.

He said inspirations from some 12-14 temples were taken to add to the "grandeur of the Mandir".

The site, some 120 kms from Patna, has been named 'Janaki Nagar' and if work begins soon, the largest Hindu temple for Lord Rama should be ready in the next three years, he said.

"We are trying our best to keep in mind the concern of Cambodians and bring changes, but our Constitution gives us the full right to construct the kind of structure we want," Kunal added.

The Mandir will be 2,800 feet in length and 1,400 feet in width and its sanctum sanctoram shall be 405 feet in height.

The site is spread over a sprawling area of 175 acres and the hall will have a seating capacity for 20,000 devotees at a time, Kunal said.

In its protest note to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Cambodia had said it "considers that this copy of Angkor Wat Temple for commercial benefit seriously violates the World heritage" which is also the emblem that has been used in its national flag for many centuries.

source: http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/cambodia-rakes-up-angkor-wat-replica-issue-with-india-1206284

[oneday]

Ridiculous what people and countries think will hurt their reputation.

The next thing you know, many countries will be suing Mini-Siam in Pattaya for building copies of their buildings in miniature.

[Roota]

Ridiculous what people and countries think will hurt their reputation.

It is, but this should be no surprise to anyone who's spent time in Cambodia. There's a sense of pride and identity around Angkor that is utterly obsessive.

[samjaidee]

"In its protest note to the Indian External Affairs Ministry, Cambodia had said it "considers that this copy of Angkor Wat Temple for commercial benefit seriously violates the World heritage" which is also the emblem that has been used in its national flag for many centuries."

That's not true. Angkor Wat was first used on a flag in 1863 when it was a French Protectorate.

[mango66]

Ridiculous what people and countries think will hurt their reputation.

The next thing you know, many countries will be suing Mini-Siam in Pattaya for building copies of their buildings in miniature.

if combodia will not stop them,

they will rebuild next nana plaza in Delhi !

( and where is Isaan in India, from where they will get the actresses ?? ) :-)))

( Than all this boys - 1gf for 5 , don't need the long travell to Thailand ! :-)))

[toenail]

Knowing India, it will not be completed...and if it was, the place would be surrounded with an awful stench of human and animal fecies as is a common odor when viewing some of Indias most prized historical buildings and monuments.

[Emster23]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"... Let's see Eiffel Tower in Vegas, Disney castle is copy of German castle by mad Ludwig, isn't it? After WWI Sam Hill built copy of Stonehenge about 60 miles up river from Portland Oregon (but reassembled)... don't know if Brits ever protested that, and was great place for solar eclipse in 79.... wish Buddhas in Afghanistan had been copied before blown up. And King Tut's tomb has been recreated in Valley of Kings as visitors mere presence is causing damage. Look on bright side: may inspire some folks to want to see the real deal in Cambo

[Srikcir]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery"... Let's see Eiffel Tower in Vegas, Disney castle is copy of German castle by mad Ludwig, isn't it? After WWI Sam Hill built copy of Stonehenge about 60 miles up river from Portland Oregon (but reassembled)... don't know if Brits ever protested that, and was great place for solar eclipse in 79.... wish Buddhas in Afghanistan had been copied before blown up. And King Tut's tomb has been recreated in Valley of Kings as visitors mere presence is causing damage. Look on bright side: may inspire some folks to want to see the real deal in Cambo

Also the Chinese Statue of Liberty built to commemorate the people who died in the 1911 Guangzhou uprising by Sun Yatsen. The statue symbolized the revolutionary notion of a nation built upon liberty and equality. It was removed in 1937 by the Chiang Kai-shek regime.

I don't think the current Thai government will be duplicating symbols of freedom and liberty anytime soon.

[attento]

The Government Minister went on to promise that Cambodia would never be involved in the illegal manufacture of copies of other countries Branded clothing, toys and consumer goods . . or did he ?