PHNOM PENH, Nov 10 (NNN-XINHUA) – Cambodia commemorated 66th anniversary of the declaration of Independence from French colonial rule on Saturday.
Nation’s King, Norodom Sihamoni, accompanied by Prime Minister, Samdech Techo Hun Sen, laid a wreath and lit the ceremonial victory fire, inside the capital’s Independence Monument, to symbolise the country’s independence from France.
The victory flame will be kept burning for three days.
The celebration was attended by approximately 10,000, who are leaders, senior officials, foreign diplomats, armed forces, civil servants, residents and students.
At the end of the event, pigeons and balloons were released, as a sign of independence and freedom.
In a post to his official Facebook page, Hun Sen said, Nov 9 reminded the people of a noble mission made by the late Cambodian King, Norodom Sihanouk, to demand independence from the French colonial rule.
“The king sacrificed both physical and mental energies, in his royal crusade, to gain full independence for Cambodia,” he said.
The Southeast Asian nation won its independence from France on Nov 9, 1953.
France ruled Cambodia for 90 years (1863-1953).
