Government Sets Dec. 7 as National Writers’ Day
Prime Minister Hun Manet has designated Dec. 7 as the annual National Writers’ Day to promote writing, culture, religion, literacy, art, history and science. Photo: Cambodianess
- By Rin Ousa
- February 14, 2024 9:50 AM
PHNOM PENH – Prime Minister Hun Manet has designated Dec. 7 as the annual National Writers’ Day to promote writing, culture, religion, literacy, art, history and science.
According to a sub-degree dated Feb. 12, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts will be in charge of organizing this National Writers’ Day in partnership with the office of the council of ministers, other relevant ministries, organizations, the private sector, educational institutions and the Khmer Writers Association.
National Writers’ Day also aims to promote creativity by organizing a writing competition.
Proeung Pranit, the president of the Khmer Writers Association, said this new national day is quite unique as writers from different literary genres, ranging from novels to history and science, will gather together on that date.
Pranit said he is delighted and excited for all Cambodian poets and writers.
“From now on, we will join hands to initiate something for this day [Dec. 07],” he said.
An independent writer, Lim Phanna said this designation is important for writers as it shows how much the government supports Cambodian literature.
Phanna said writers themselves are also proud to be granted a national day and appreciate this designation.
“We have more motivation and inspiration to develop our work, be creative and focus on quality writing,” Phanna said.
Even though this new Writers’ Day is a national celebration, it has not been made a national holiday, meaning that workers or students are not allowed to take a leave on that date.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts is already in charge of organizing the annual Indradevi Literary Competition prize for 10 writers writing novels and poems in the Khmer language.
The Indradevi Literary Competition was established in 1960 and managed by the Khmer Writers Association until 1967.
The competition was then reinstituted in 2002 under the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts. It was put on hold for some years and relaunched in 2019 by the ministry.
