In Cambodia, a battle for democracy, inclusiveness

Subject : History

Section : Art and Culture

Concept :

The imprisonment of Opposition leader Kem Sokha who was found guilty of treason by a municipal court in the Cambodian capital Phnom Penh has attracted criticism from the international community and human rights groups.
Due to the impact of Pol Pot’s dictatorship and the continuous cycles of war which officially ended in 1991, Cambodia is struggling to elevate its economy from a lower-income status. Further, there have been growing concerns about democratic freedoms and inclusive development in the southeast Asian country.
Additionally, there have also been concerns over the growing Chinese investment in Cambodia.
A 187-km-long expressway that connects the Sihanoukville port town with the capital Phnom Penh has been built with a Chinese investment of $2 billion which is now a part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

India’s Presence in Cambodia

India is currently involved in restoring the 12th-century sites at the Angkor Wat temple in the city of Siem Reap in Cambodia.
India is also engaged in extending technical training, livelihood support, and supporting local entrepreneurship.
However, the locals opine that India should help promote democracy within Cambodia as without democratic freedoms, the development initiatives fail to reach people.

Angkor Vat Temple

Angkor Wat is a temple complex in Cambodia and one of the largest religious monuments in the world.
It is an UNESCO World Heritage Site.
It was originally constructed as a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Vishnu for the Khmer Empire, it was gradually transformed into a Buddhist temple towards the end of the 12th century.
It was built by the Khmer King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century in Yaśodharapura (present-day Angkor), the capital of the Khmer Empire, as his state temple and eventual mausoleum.
Architecture: Angkor Wat is the world’s largest religious structure, covering some 400 acres (160 hectares), and marks the high point of Khmerarchitecture.
Stylistic elements: the ogival, lotus bud-shaped towers, half-galleries, axial galleries, connecting enclosures and cruciform terraces.