PHNOM PENH: At a ceremony of Cambodia's 69th anniversary of independence held this morning at the independent monument in Phnom Penh King of Cambodia, King Norodom Sihamoni, was greeted by Prime Minister Hun Sen, Minister’s, National assembly members, Ambassadors, distinguish guests, all military affiliations, Civil servants, all Ministry departments, members of the public and students.

King Norodom Sihamoni lit the ceremonial flame on the interior pedestal with blessing of Monks. The flame will stay lit for three days before the King will extinguish the flame. King Norodom Sihamoni was driven around the monument as the crowd cheered and waved the Cambodian flag and red flowers.

The independent monument was built in 1958 to memorialize Cambodians independence from France in 1953.

A crowd of ten thousand people in total attended the ceremony, with some holding balloons and white pigeons to be released after the lighting off the flame. It was a spectacular view to watch the balloons and pigeons fly and float in to the sky, it was like the sky was being painted like a rainbow.