PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has issued an urgent statement condemning the “continued and intensified shelling” of the Preah Vihear Temple by Thai armed forces, calling the attacks a direct assault on Cambodia’s sovereignty and a violation of international laws protecting cultural heritage.
In the strongly worded Sunday (July 27) statement, the ministry accused Thailand of endangering not only the structural integrity of the ancient temple — inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 2008 — but also the “shared cultural heritage of humanity”.
According to the ministry, large portions of the temple and its surrounding sacred landscape have suffered “grave and unprecedented” damage.
“These renewed acts of aggression have placed the temple in grave and unprecedented danger,” the ministry said, adding that the destruction has undermined “a symbol of Cambodia's national identity, historical continuity and spiritual heritage”.
The ministry asserted that the attacks constitute blatant violations of several international instruments, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1999 Second Protocol, the 1972 Unesco World Heritage Convention and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), under which intentional destruction of cultural heritage may be prosecuted as a war crime.
It also noted Thailand’s obligations as a state party to the International Coordinating Committee for the Conservation and Enhancement of the Temple of Preah Vihear, as established by a Unesco decision in 2014.
The ministry called on Thailand to immediately halt all military operations targeting Preah Vihear Temple and its designated protected zones and to fully comply wit its legal obligations under the aforementioned treaties.
In its appeal to the international community, the ministry urged Unesco, the UN and relevant cultural and human rights organisations to:
Demand an immediate ceasefire and respect for Cambodia’s sovereignty.
Publicly condemn Thailand’s continued aggression.
Pursue diplomatic and legal measures to hold those responsible accountable.
Deploy international observers to assess the damage and aid in site protection.
The ministry affirmed it is meticulously documenting all instances of destruction and is prepared to pursue legal action through the ICC and other international legal forums to seek justice and reparations.
“The Kingdom of Cambodia remains steadfast in its commitment to defending its cultural heritage and upholding the principles of peace, justice and international law,” the statement concluded.
Preah Vihear Temple, located atop a 525-metre cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, has long been a source of diplomatic tension between Cambodia and Thailand.
This latest escalation marks a serious deterioration in bilateral relations and raises alarm over the protection of irreplaceable cultural landmarks amid armed conflict. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
