Boat Races to Kick Off Independence Day Fun

Phnom Penh will begin its celebration of Independence Day with a boat race Sunday on the Tonle Sap river near Wat Ounalom, City Hall officials said yesterday. "On Nov 7, we will celebrate with a boat race to welcome Independence Day," governor Kep Chuktema said during the ceremony to inaugurate the city's new Freedom Park. Independence Day will fall on Tuesday and marks Cambodia's independence from French rule. "Hease you people join for fun on Sunday this weekend," he said. The 42 boats will represent 42 of Phnom Penh's communes, according to a City Hall official who declined to be named as he was not authorized to speak to the media Chea Sokhom, secretary-general of the National Committee for Organizing National and International Festivals, said that on Monday government officials would lay a wreath at Independence Monument to honor the country's heroes. On Tuesday at 730 am, King Norodom Sihamoni will light a flame at the monument and extinguish it on Thursday afternoon, he said

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