PHNOM PENH: The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has condemned the recent destruction of a wooden staircase leading to K’nar Temple. Thai military personnel were observed pouring petrol on the staircase, which was built in 2017, before setting it alight.
In a Friday (June 5) statement, the ministry explained that the 325-metre wooden staircase had 1,181 steps, and was constructed to support the conservation and management of the site, by facilitating access for visitors, researchers and local communities.
Several images show Thai soldiers setting fire to the staircase, located on Thai-occupied land in Cambodia’s Preah Vihear province.
"The deliberate destruction of this structure constitutes a serious act of damage to cultural heritage and to the conservation efforts undertaken by Cambodia over many years.
"It appears to form part of broader attempts to alter the existing situation on the ground, create a fait accompli and erase material evidence of Cambodia’s longstanding administration, conservation and stewardship of the temple and its surrounding cultural landscape," said the ministry.
"Such actions are contrary to the fundamental principles governing the protection of cultural heritage and are incompatible with the obligations of States to safeguard cultural property for present and future generations," it added.
The ministry also issued a categorical rejection of Thai plans to stage public events, religious ceremonies, tourism activities and the sale of tickets to Ta Krabei Temple to the public this weekend.
The ministry noted that both cultural and historical sites are located within the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as established under the Franco-Siamese Treaties of 1904 and 1907 and the relevant legal instruments recognised under international law.
It described the planned activities as an unlawful exercise of authority on Cambodian territory and a serious violation of the Kingdom’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Such actions are unacceptable and appear intended to create a false impression of administrative control over a Cambodian cultural site.
"The ministry firmly rejects any attempt to legitimise or normalise the unlawful occupation of Cambodian territory through tourism, cultural, religious or administrative activities.
"These acts are null and void and cannot affect Cambodia’s lawful sovereignty over Ta Krabei Temple," declared the statement.
It called on Thailand to cease all such activities, including tourism operations, ticketing practices and any other actions that damage, alter or interfere with cultural heritage sites located within Cambodian territory.
It urged Thai authorities to respect their obligations under international law, refrain from actions that may aggravate tensions and avoid any measures that could prejudice the peaceful settlement of this matter. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
