Prime Minister Hun Sen discussed religion and the arts while meeting with the Khmer Aja Association, while also calling on them to use their positions to educate the public about the dangers of drugs and gambling.

Ajas are the laymen who organise and lead religious ceremonies such as weddings or funerals.

The April 8 meeting, on Koh Pich in Phnom Penh, was the first time he had met with them since 2016.

In a social media post, the prime minister described the meeting as an opportunity to understand the roles of the ajas, and share their knowledge Cambodian culture and traditions.

“It is indisputable that when the secular part of society encounters disaster, the Buddhist sector also suffers, as was seen following the 1970 coup of Marshal Lon Nol’s Khmer Republic regime, which led to the Democratic Kampuchea of Pol Pot. Every religion suffered under the hated regime,” he said.

Hun Sen called on all masters of ceremonies to avoid differences of opinion while conducting ceremonies. He also requested that they provide people with education on drug and gambling issues, because thefts and robberies can increase as a result of these vices.

“Please do your part to promote the safe village-commune policy. We use this policy as the core of our grassroots approach to reducing crime and protecting public order. As the ajas often interact with the public, and are admired by most members of society, I asked them to share this important message as widely as they can,” he said.

He asked that ajas and monks encourage people to maintain high moral standards, saying that when people are virtuous, society is far more harmonious.

“Therefore, I asked them to help maintain security and social order,” he added.

He also called on philanthropists to sponsor the pin peat orchestras of their local pagoda, as they is one of the Kingdom’s most unique cultural treasures.

“I think that donors might like to help the pin peat orchestra at this or that pagoda. It is not very expensive. We have over 5,000 pagodas, and 4,000 orchestras. It is important that we preserve our traditions for the coming generations,” he said.

Historian Sambo Manara said Cambodia has a long history of both culture and religion, and that society has merged the two together, providing one of the greatest foundational strengths of the Khmer people.

He believed that maintaining – and even innovating – the influence that Cambodians receive from all religions, but especially Buddhism, was indispensable in strengthening the country, so it could develop further.

“Buddhism united the people so they could work wholeheartedly to build the nation. It is thanks to our belief in the leadership and in our religion that we have created a culture of development and growth,” he said.

“The prime minister’s remarks will further strengthen traditions and remind people of the past,” he added.

Manara said that Cambodia has over 5,000 pagodas, but some are less active in the preservation of arts and culture.

“The prime minister specifically mentioned some musical traditions that need to be preserved. Some pagodas are doing so, while some are not. This is a clear indicator that we could do better to preserve our precious cultural heritage,” he concluded.