Preah vihear: The conservation building of the Gopura V Conservation and Restoration Project, implemented under Cambodia-India cooperation, as well as other essential conservation infrastructure near the Preah Vihear Temple, suffered damage due to Thai armed attacks on Cambodia this morning.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the attack disrupted ongoing conservation efforts at the historic site.
Since the Temple of Preah Vihear was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List on July 7, 2008, Thailand has repeatedly fabricated claims and instigated armed confrontations in and around the temple. These confrontations were most notable between 2008 and 2011, with renewed hostilities occurring from July 24-28, 2025.
The latest attack followed several consecutive days of Thai military provocations, including an incident on December 7 at the Prolean Thmar area within the Preah Vihear Temple Conservation Zone in Sra-em commune, Choam Ksan district. These acts appear intended to incite confrontation and undermine the Kuala Lumpur Peace Agreement.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts strongly condemns this aggression, which has severely obstructed conservation operations and necessitated the evacuation of officials, staff, guards, and conservation workers of the National Authority for Preah Vihear, along with local residents.
The Ministry denounces this violation of the Joint Declaration on the Peace Deal between Cambodia and Thailand, signed by the Prime Ministers of both countries and facilitated by U.S. President Donald J. Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on October 26, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur.
The Ministry calls on Thailand to cease hostilities, which threaten peace, stability, and regional cooperation, and to comply fully with the ceasefire agreement, the Joint Declaration on the Peace Deal, and all obligations under international law.
The Ministry also urges the international community to condemn Thailand's actions against Cambodia's territorial integrity and the destruction of the World Heritage Site of Preah Vihear. These are serious violations of the 1972 World Heritage Convention and the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. As a State Party to these instruments, Thailand must be held accountable for these breaches.