Int’l experts sought to assess damage to Preah Vihear Temple

-Photo shows severe damage to Preah Vihear Temple caused by heavy artillery shelling by the Thai military during last year’s conflict. KT/Khem Sovannara

Synopsis: Prime Minister Hun Manet says unexploded ordnance clearance and emergency stabilisation work are underway to preserve one of Cambodia’s most significant cultural landmarks.

Cambodia has asked international experts to inspect and assess the damage to Preah Vihear Temple as the government strengthens cooperation with UNESCO and other conservation partners to protect and restore the World Heritage site following conflict-related bombardment.

Yesterday, on the 18th anniversary of the temple’s inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List, Prime Minister Hun Manet said the government has launched a series of urgent measures, including damage assessment, unexploded ordnance clearance and emergency stabilisation work to prevent further collapse of the ancient Khmer monument.

He said the inscription of Preah Vihear Temple as a World Heritage Site in Quebec City, Canada, on July 7, 2008, reflected international recognition of the monument’s outstanding cultural, architectural and historical significance.

Perched atop the Dangrek mountain range in Preah Vihear province, the temple is one of Cambodia’s architectural masterpieces. Built and expanded between the 9th and 12th centuries, it stretches about 800 metres along a south-north axis and features five gopuras linked by arched bridges, sandstone staircases and intricately carved stonework.

Mr Hun Manet said Preah Vihear Temple is not only a symbol of Khmer culture and civilisation but also of national unity and Cambodia’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.

He paid tribute to generations of Cambodians, leaders and stakeholders who helped protect and promote the temple, including the late King Father Norodom Sihanouk, whose legal campaign at the International Court of Justice in The Hague resulted in the landmark 1962 ruling that the temple and its surrounding area stand on Cambodian territory.

He said armed confrontations during the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict had damaged several heritage sites, including Preah Vihear Temple, affecting 562 locations and hampering conservation efforts for nearly two decades.

“This is a huge loss not only for Cambodia, but for the heritage of all humanity,” he said.

In response, the government has intensified cooperation with UNESCO, the International Coordinating Committee for the Protection and Enhancement of Preah Vihear (ICC Preah Vihear) and other relevant partners, while inviting international experts to assess the extent of the damage.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia has taken a number of urgent measures, including strengthening close cooperation with UNESCO, the International Coordinating Committee and all relevant partners in assessing the damage and implementing conservation measures,” he said.

Mr Hun Manet said efforts are ongoing to clear unexploded ordnance and cluster munitions, reinforce damaged sections of the temple to prevent further collapse, and collect and preserve broken stone sculptures scattered across the site.

Archaeologist Thuy Chanthuon welcomed the government’s decision to conduct damage assessments and strengthen cooperation with UNESCO, describing the measures as essential to protecting a World Heritage site of exceptional cultural and historical value.

He said bringing in international experts would help ensure the temple is properly conserved and restored in line with international standards.

Chanthuon added that military actions that damage World Heritage sites should be investigated under international law and United Nations mechanisms, with those responsible held accountable.

He urged the government to file a complaint with the United Nations seeking compensation from Thailand for the damage, while also calling for those responsible to face prosecution for alleged war crimes and the destruction of cultural heritage under international law.

“For the restoration of Preah Vihear Temple, the government must conduct a comprehensive assessment of the damage and ensure the responsible country pays compensation for all losses,” Chanthuon said.

-Khmer Times-