The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has strongly condemned the Thai military for damaging Ta Krabei Temple, a sacred cultural heritage site of Cambodia, and has called on UNESCO to join in issuing the strongest condemnation to pressure the Thai military to immediately end its destructive actions.
In a statement released today, December 9, the ministry said the Thai military’s actions demonstrate immorality, contempt and disrespect toward the culture, civilisation and sacred heritage which are part of humanity’s legacy — particularly the cultural heritage built and preserved by Cambodia’s Khmer ancestors, whose value is immeasurable.
The ministry appealed to all national and international institutions, especially UNESCO, the ASEAN community and all related organisations, associations and individuals who care about protecting humanity’s heritage, to join them in issuing the strongest condemnation and urging the Thai military to halt their attacks.
“National and international intervention is essential because the Thai military has continued attacking indiscriminately, targeting all locations, whether civilian areas or heritage sites. Notably, on December 8, Preah Vihear Temple suffered damage, with preservation buildings under the Cambodia–India Conservation Project completely ruined, along with other structures of the temple,” it stated.
The ministry added that it will use all possible mechanisms, both at the national and international levels, to demand that Thailand take responsibility, in accordance with international law, and to ensure these destructive actions are recorded in the history of humanity.
Ta Krabei Temple is located in the Dangrek mountain range, in Bos Thom village, Kouk Khpuos commune, Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province.
In a recent meeting with Khaled Ahmed El-Enany Ali Ezz, director-general of UNESCO, at UNESCO headquarters in Paris at the end of November, Cambodian Minister of Culture and Fine Arts Phoeurng Sackona raised concerns about Thailand’s construction of a replica of Angkor Wat. The two also discussed the possibility of sending UNESCO experts to inspect and assess the damage to Preah Vihear Temple caused by recent border clashes.
