The grounds include a stupa which commemorates the 1964 visit by the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk. DC-Cam
“The Physical Legacy of Sangkum Reastr Niyum, King Father–Queen Mother”, established by the Documentation Center of Cambodia (DC-Cam), was officially inaugurated in Stung Treng province’s Borei O’Svay–Sen Chey district on June 1.
The facility pays tribute to Her Majesty Norodom Monineath Sihanouk’s lifelong devotion to the people of Cambodia. It includes the Queen Mother Library, which serves as a vital resource for education, research and the preservation of the Kingdom’s cultural and historical heritage.
Princess Norodom Arunrasmy, the youngest daughter of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and the Queen Mother, attended the inauguration ceremony, along with Ulku Kocaefe, ambassador of Türkiye to Cambodia.
Arunrasmy said the facility will provide a lasting legacy — supporting students, researchers and all citizens in exploring Cambodia’s rich history, culture and contemporary arts.
“The inauguration of The Physical Legacy of Sangkum Reastr Niyum, King Father–Queen Mother honours the ideals of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era. It represents a significant milestone in our nation’s ongoing efforts to foster education, advance research and celebrate the arts,” she added.
Princess Norodom Arunrasmy (centre), the youngest daughter of the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk and the Queen Mother, attended the June 1 inauguration ceremony. DC-Cam
The Turkish embassy supported the construction of the facility, even providing boats and piers to assist the local community to travel between the many islands in the area.
Youk Chhang, DC-Cam executive director, explained that in 1964, King Sihanouk visited the village of Ou Svay. A few years later, the small village, which was wracked by poverty and lacked basic infrastructure, was completely devastated by the spillover of the Vietnam War and the ensuing genocide, and since that time, it has been gradually forgotten.
He said in 2019, with the support of the Queen Mother, the village was revitalised with the construction of a school, a hospital and public restrooms, as well as the restoration of a stupa of the late King Father and a garden.
This year, the village will hold a commemoration of the King’s 1964 visit.
DC-Cam, in collaboration with the Borei Ou Svay-Sen Chey district administration, takes pride in contributing to the legacy of the Sangkum Reastr Niyum era. It also noted the important role the new water transport infrastructure will play.
“The new boating facilities are essential to re-energising the communities in the area, which are spread across eight islands. The history, environment and cultural heritage of the BoreyO’Svay-SenChey region are invaluable resources that must be preserved and protected for future generations,” said Chhang.
