The APSARA National Authority (ANA) has identified 4,264 illegal structures across 114 villages within the Angkor Archaeological Park over the past year.
According to an October 9 statement from the Siem Reap provincial pdministration, a report from the ANA showed that from August 2024 to the end of August this year, illegal construction activities have continued to spread throughout the 27 communes of six districts and towns.
They include new houses, house modifications, makeshift shelters, landfills, fences, animal pens and ponds, among others.
The administration responded to the report by holding several meetings. It instructed the authorities in all six districts and towns to conduct inspections and provide guidance to the residents of the Angkor Park. However, officials warned that some residents have refused to cooperate and, in certain cases, organised gatherings to obstruct enforcement activities.
The statement added that, with government backing, the provincial administration and local authorities have been working closely with national-level agencies — especially the Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction — to develop a land-use plan for the Angkor area.
The goal is to ensure that residents receive economic and social protection and can continue to live peacefully and harmoniously as “Angkor villagers”.
The administration urged the residents of the World Heritage Site to immediately cease all forms of unauthorised construction and comply with existing regulations, letters and legal provisions until the new land-use plan is approved and implemented.
Citizens were also told to cease all gatherings and protests that oppose the work of the authorities.
“If residents continue the above-mentioned activities, the provincial administration will take strict action in accordance with existing laws and legal procedures,” warned a directive, signed by provincial governor Prak Sophoan.
The administration expressed its hopes that residents of the Angkor area will cooperate to help preserve the cultural and historical heritage of their ancestors, maintaining the honour of being true “Angkor villagers”.
All construction or renovation in the area must have prior approval from the ANA, obtained through an official application process.
In September 2025, APSARA community working groups reviewed 127 applications for construction or renovation within the Angkor Park, approving 111 applications.
The ANA noted that residents in the Angkor area are granted flexibility to make minor repairs to their homes and related structures — such as fences, roofs, walls, decayed columns, toilets, cow sheds, chicken coops and pigsties.
Each repair permit is valid for two months and applies only to the existing residential site, as verified and approved by the APSARA working group, under the Department of Land Management and Heritage Sites.
The ANA highlighted that the application and permit process is completely free of charge. However, inspection teams found that some residents who received permits did not follow the approved conditions.
The authority urged all residents granted permission to carry out repairs strictly in accordance with the technical guidelines recognized by both local authorities and the ANA.
