Preah vihear: As part of a Cambodian parliamentary observation team, I visited the border village of Anseh in Choam Ksan district in Preah Vihear province, witnessing the aftermath of a destructive event that has sparked significant outrage. The team, led by H.E. Suos Yara, chairman of the National Assembly Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Media, observed the remnants of the Lok Ta Om shrine, a monument dedicated to a legendary Khmer general, which had been devastated by artillery shelling reportedly carried out by Thai forces.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the destruction, which occurred between July 24 and 28, has left the shrine in ruins, with only broken concrete remnants of the statue of Lok Ta Om astride his horse, a fallen Cambodian flagpole, and various other culturally significant items, such as 'naga' sculptures and traditional 'kbach' decorations, remaining. The shelling also obliterated the adjacent market and hundreds of dwellings, leaving visible craters in and around the rubble.
The shrine, regarded as a long-standing vernacular place of worship within Cambodia's 'neak ta' tradition, is venerated by the local people who see Lok Ta Om as the guardian spirit of the Anseh area. The site holds cultural and spiritual significance similar to other historic shrines in Cambodia, and its destruction has been likened to past attacks on cultural heritage sites, including the World Heritage site of the Temple of Preah Vihear.
Mr. Chea Kimseng, former Governor of Chaom Ksan district, noted that an enormous 'thlok' tree near the market may have been the original site of the neak ta shrine. The contemporary monument, dating back to 2009, continued the tradition of Anseh by providing a place for worship and gathering for locals and cross-border traders.
During the visit, offerings and prayers were made amidst the rubble, highlighting the spiritual resilience and significance of the site. A bystander emphasized the symbolic endurance of the surviving naga sculpture, an emblem of Cambodia's enduring cultural heritage.
The Lok Ta Om shrine's destruction may constitute a war crime under international law, specifically the Protocols Additional to the Geneva Conventions, which prohibit hostility against cultural and spiritual heritage sites. Cambodia's national laws, including the 1993 Constitution and the 1996 Law on the Protection of Cultural Heritage, also mandate the protection of such sites.
As the military attach©s from Phnom Penh arrived, Thai soldiers observed and documented the team's movements, underscoring the tense atmosphere at the border. The incident calls for international attention and action to prevent further cultural vandalism and protect Cambodia's invaluable cultural heritage.