PHNOM PENH: Cambodia’s Ministry of Cults and Religion has issued a formal protest against the Thai military for installing a Buddha statue in An Ses village, Preah Vihear province, describing the act as a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and a breach of bilateral and international agreements.
In a statement released on Thursday (Jan 22), the ministry said the installation, in Choam Ksan commune and district, took place in an area Cambodia considers occupied.
The protest follows a Jan 21 release by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, which also condemned recent activities by Thai forces in the disputed area.
According to today’s statement, the new statue was installed on the site where a statue of Lord Vishnu previously stood before it was destroyed, actions attributed to the Thai military. The ministry said this act went beyond cultural or religious symbolism and constituted a direct infringement of Cambodia’s territorial sovereignty.
“The installation of the new statue on the site of the destroyed Lord Vishnu statue is a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and runs counter to the fundamental principles of international law, which prohibit the use of force to acquire territory,” the statement said.
The ministry also noted that Thailand’s actions contradict its commitments under a series of bilateral agreements and understandings aimed at preventing escalation along the border.
These include the Ceasefire Agreement signed on July 28, 2025, minutes of previous General Border Committee meetings, the Joint Statement on Peace and Peaceful Dispute Resolution dated Oct 26, 2025, and the Joint Declaration of the Special Meeting of the General Border Committee on Dec 27, 2025.
“These agreements collectively reaffirm the obligation of both parties not to take unilateral measures,” the statement said, calling on the Thai military to respect international law and to comply fully with existing treaties and agreements.
The ministry urged Thailand to cease what it described as abusive activities in the area and to resolve all disputes through peaceful means, in line with agreed mechanisms and mutual respect for sovereignty. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
