The Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of Cambodia’s most treasured cultural landmarks, has come under renewed attack by the armed forces of the Kingdom of Thailand, placing the ancient structure in grave and unprecedented danger.
According to an official report from Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, intense shelling began on the morning of July 27 and continued throughout the day, causing extensive damage to significant portions of the temple and its surrounding sacred landscape. The assault marks a serious escalation in the long-standing border dispute between Cambodia and Thailand over the area surrounding the Hindu temple.
The temple’s ownership was decided in 1962 when the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled that Preah Vihear belongs to Cambodia. In 2008, military tensions reignited when Thai troops entered the area. That conflict led to a reaffirmation by the ICJ in 2013, recognizing Cambodia’s sovereignty over both the temple and the promontory on which it sits.
Despite these rulings, Thailand’s renewed aggression has placed the site at fresh risk. Cultural heritage experts warn that continued hostilities could irreversibly damage the ancient structure, which has stood for nearly a millennium atop the Dangrek Mountains, overlooking the Cambodian plains. The destruction of Preah Vihear Temple would not only represent a loss for Cambodia but for the world at large, a blow to global efforts to protect cultural heritage in conflict zones.
As images and videos of the damage begin to circulate on social media and local news outlets, global cultural and legal institutions face mounting pressure to respond decisively. Cambodia warns that without immediate intervention, the world risks witnessing the deliberate destruction of an irreplaceable legacy, one that belongs not only to the Cambodian people, but to all of humankind.
Author: Pichseth Sothy