PHNOM PENH: Prime Minister Hun Sen has praised the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and related institutions for their efforts to inscribe ‘LBokator’ on to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity list. The ancient Cambodian martial art style was officially added to the list on Tuesday night, 29 November, at the 17th Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Protection of Intangible Cultural Heritage of UNESCO in Rabat, Morocco.

"I appreciate the attention, effort, support, and close cooperation between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, under the Royal Government, Cambodia Kun Bokator Federation, the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, other relevant institutions, both national and international experts, especially the community of martial arts teachers and LBokator students, as well as local authorities in the capitals and provinces of Cambodia, for successfully registering ‘Lbokator’ into the Intangible Cultural Heritage List of Humanity," he said.

The Prime Minister said he is proud that LBokator was inscribed on to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list and said the day of the inscription has become one of the most important days in the history of Cambodia. He said that this is a new point of pride at the end of the Royal Government’s sixth term, for Cambodian people both inside and outside the country.

He added that LBokator’s registration as an intangible cultural heritage adds to the obligation of both Cambodia and the international community to cooperate in preserving and protecting this invaluable Khmer traditional martial art for future generations.

To celebrate this historic event, the Prime Minister called on all radio, television stations and the media to work together to widely publicize LBokator’s inscription.

LBokator is a traditional Khmer martial art that has been deeply rooted in Cambodian society for centuries, as evidenced through Khmer "LBokator" carvings on the walls of Angkorian temples. It is one of Cambodia’s greatest cultural heritage artefacts which continues to survive to this day.

Cambodia already has eight entries inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list, including the Angkor Archeological Site, the Royal Ballet, Sbek Thom or ‘Big Skin’ shadow theater, the Temple of Preah Vihear, the Chapei Dang Veng, traditional Cambodian tug-of-war, the Sambor Prei Kuk temple, and the Khmer masked theater of Svay Andet pagoda.