The Constitution Monument was inaugurated on Constitution Day, September 24, last year. Information ministry
Starting this year, September 24, Constitution Day, will no longer be a regular public holiday for the Kingdom’s civil servants.
Government officials at the national and sub-national levels have been mandated to organise ceremonies to show “respect for the Constitution”, both in Phnom Penh and all 24 provinces.
This directive was outlined in a January 3 circular issued by Prime Minister Hun Manet which was recently made public.
“All ministries and institutions must organise delegations of leaders and civil servants to participate in a ceremony to honour the Constitution, which will be held at the Constitution Monument on September 24 each year,” said the circular.
The monument was inaugurated by His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni on September 24 last year.
“The event will be organised by the National Committee for National and International Festivals. Additionally, departments and agencies in the capital and provinces must organise ceremonies to honour the constitution, based on their specific circumstances and resources,” added the circular.
It also encouraged all institutions and public and private media outlets to disseminate information about the Constitution and its history to inspire the spirit of “respecting, defending, promoting and implementing the Constitution as the supreme law of the nation”.
Ou Chandarath, founder of the Cambodia Reform Party, expressed support for the ceremony, noting that such initiatives enhance the value of the country’s supreme law. He emphasised that honouring the Constitution must go beyond symbolism, and be reflected in actions and intent.
“It is not enough to merely showcase respect through imagery. The Constitution must be implemented effectively for the ceremony to hold real significance,” he said.
Similarly, Yang Peou, secretary-general of the Royal Academy of Cambodia, remarked that the government’s push for respecting the Constitution is a rightful endeavour, while adding that “respecting the Constitution should not merely be a one-time display”.
He explained that as the supreme law of the Kingdom, the Constitution must be respected by all politicians and citizens alike. This respect must extend beyond symbolic gestures and rhetoric to include consistent implementation, ensuring that the country’s governance fosters peace and order.
“The establishment of Constitution Day and ceremonies to honour it are something to be celebrated, as they illustrate the importance of the Constitution and the efforts of politicians to create it. However, I must stress that all politicians must always respect the Constitution, which guarantees national unity, harmony, social order, sovereignty and peace for the nation,” Peou said.
