National
• 2 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Cambodia Rejects Thai Allegations Over Use of Temples for Military Purposes
PHNOM PENH — Sept. 15, 2026: The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has firmly rejected allegations by Thai authorities that Cambodia used ancient temple sites for military purposes, calling the claims unfounded and a deliberate attempt to distort information.
In a statement issued today, the Ministry said recent remarks by Mr. Prapas Sonjaidee, Director of the Thai-Cambodian Situation Information Center, and Mr. Phanombut Chantharachote, Director-General of the Thai Fine Arts Department, were intended to deflect responsibility for the destruction and damage of cultural heritage and to mislead the public.
The Ministry reaffirmed that Cambodia, as a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention and its two Protocols, as well as the 1972 UNESCO Convention, has never attacked any cultural heritage site, and no cultural heritage site within Cambodia has ever been used as a military base.
In contrast, the statement said, Thailand's acts of aggression against Cambodia have destroyed and damaged ancient temples and other heritage sites within Cambodian territory, including the Temple of Preah Vihear, the Temple of Ta Moan Thom, the Temple of Ta Krabey, Spean Toap, and several other archaeological sites.
The Ministry said Ta Moan Thom, Ta Krabey and K'nar remain illegally occupied by Thailand, which is attempting to create a fait accompli on the ground, including through a purported legal framework aimed at asserting claims over these sites. It added that a number of archaeological objects from K'nar Temple have been illegally removed by Thai authorities and taken to Thailand.
Cambodia categorically opposes Thailand's unilateral activities at these temples, including the construction of infrastructure and electricity networks, the organization of tourism and religious activities, and restoration projects carried out without Cambodia's authorization.
The Ministry noted that Thai military attacks on the Temple of Preah Vihear in July and December 2025 caused extensive damage, affecting 562 locations and reducing temple stones to more than 70,000 fragments. The shelling destroyed much of the results of more than ten years of restoration and conservation work, as well as public infrastructure, and forced more than 16,000 people to evacuate from the heritage area. Some residents have still been unable to return home due to security and safety concerns.
The Ministry stressed that the Temple of Preah Vihear, a World Heritage property, is a sacred site for the Cambodian people — a place of conservation, archaeological study, education, religious worship and tourism. It has welcomed Thai visitors who have seen for themselves that the temple is a cultural and religious heritage site, not a military site.
Cambodia reiterated its condemnation of the unlawful occupation of its cultural heritage sites and urged Thailand to withdraw its troops, particularly from Ta Moan Thom, Ta Krabey and K'nar Temples. It also called for the immediate return of the archaeological objects removed from K'nar Temple and urged Thailand to respect international law and cease attempts to consolidate its occupation of Cambodian sovereign territory.
Cambodia reaffirmed that its cultural heritage sites are not military bases and must never be used for military purposes, and said it will continue to give the highest priority to conserving its heritage for future generations and as part of the shared heritage of humanity.
The Ministry's statement includes video clips documenting the damage to the Temple of Preah Vihear. Readers can refer to the link below for the video evidence.
Video/Source: Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
In a statement issued today, the Ministry said recent remarks by Mr. Prapas Sonjaidee, Director of the Thai-Cambodian Situation Information Center, and Mr. Phanombut Chantharachote, Director-General of the Thai Fine Arts Department, were intended to deflect responsibility for the destruction and damage of cultural heritage and to mislead the public.
The Ministry reaffirmed that Cambodia, as a State Party to the 1954 Hague Convention and its two Protocols, as well as the 1972 UNESCO Convention, has never attacked any cultural heritage site, and no cultural heritage site within Cambodia has ever been used as a military base.
In contrast, the statement said, Thailand's acts of aggression against Cambodia have destroyed and damaged ancient temples and other heritage sites within Cambodian territory, including the Temple of Preah Vihear, the Temple of Ta Moan Thom, the Temple of Ta Krabey, Spean Toap, and several other archaeological sites.
The Ministry said Ta Moan Thom, Ta Krabey and K'nar remain illegally occupied by Thailand, which is attempting to create a fait accompli on the ground, including through a purported legal framework aimed at asserting claims over these sites. It added that a number of archaeological objects from K'nar Temple have been illegally removed by Thai authorities and taken to Thailand.
Cambodia categorically opposes Thailand's unilateral activities at these temples, including the construction of infrastructure and electricity networks, the organization of tourism and religious activities, and restoration projects carried out without Cambodia's authorization.
The Ministry noted that Thai military attacks on the Temple of Preah Vihear in July and December 2025 caused extensive damage, affecting 562 locations and reducing temple stones to more than 70,000 fragments. The shelling destroyed much of the results of more than ten years of restoration and conservation work, as well as public infrastructure, and forced more than 16,000 people to evacuate from the heritage area. Some residents have still been unable to return home due to security and safety concerns.
The Ministry stressed that the Temple of Preah Vihear, a World Heritage property, is a sacred site for the Cambodian people — a place of conservation, archaeological study, education, religious worship and tourism. It has welcomed Thai visitors who have seen for themselves that the temple is a cultural and religious heritage site, not a military site.
Cambodia reiterated its condemnation of the unlawful occupation of its cultural heritage sites and urged Thailand to withdraw its troops, particularly from Ta Moan Thom, Ta Krabey and K'nar Temples. It also called for the immediate return of the archaeological objects removed from K'nar Temple and urged Thailand to respect international law and cease attempts to consolidate its occupation of Cambodian sovereign territory.
Cambodia reaffirmed that its cultural heritage sites are not military bases and must never be used for military purposes, and said it will continue to give the highest priority to conserving its heritage for future generations and as part of the shared heritage of humanity.
The Ministry's statement includes video clips documenting the damage to the Temple of Preah Vihear. Readers can refer to the link below for the video evidence.
Video/Source: Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
