Sihanouk statue waves down on Royal Palace
A familiar figure has popped up atop a building that authorities in Phnom Penh ordered demolished in October for violating height restrictions around the Royal Palace: a statue of late King Father Norodom Sihanouk. “I have built a King statue on the top of my building because I love the King and respect my King,” said Sin Kim Heng, the owner of the future hotel located off Street 19z behind the Royal University of Fine Arts. ... Mr. Kim Heng acknowledged last year that he chose to construct the building 10 meters taller than the 24.5 meters allowed in his contract with Phnom Penh’s land management department. He made the decision, he said, after Prime Minister Hun Sen publicly lifted a ban on buildings higher than 14 meters in the area around the Royal Palace. City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche said Monday that a commission has been established by the Phnom Penh municipality to deal with the issue of tall buildings near the Royal Palace. Another tall building ordered demolished last year is located on Sisowath Quay and owned by Vattanac Properties. It was permitted to build 14 meters in height, but it had already surpassed 20 meters when construction was halted in October. ... Prince Sisowath Thomico, a longtime secretary to the King Father, said that the last year’s orders should be carried out but the statue preserved. ...
Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/sihanouk-statue-waves-down-on-royal-palace-56896/
