‘Those who are not the rightful owners have shown no compassion for sacred sites,’ says Information Minister

‘Those who are not the rightful owners have shown no compassion for sacred sites,’ says Information Minister

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The Thai military’s aggression against Cambodia has included the use of heavy artillery that damaged Buddhist temples, the bombing of Ta Krabei and Preah Vihear temples, and, most recently, the destruction of a statue of the Hindu god Vishnu.

“These sites are sacred places of worship and spiritual significance for Buddhists, Hindus and followers of other faiths,” Minister of Information Neth Pheaktra said.

The destruction of the statue of a Hindu deity in the An Seh area of Preah Vihear province by the Thai army has sparked anger among Hindu communities and drawn strong condemnation from India, which described the act as disrespectful.

Minister Pheaktra said that for the true custodians of this heritage, witnessing such devastation causes profound sorrow and incomparable anguish.

The Thai army also destroyed Ta Krabei Temple in Oddar Meanchey province and partially damaged Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Preah Vihear province.

“Those who are not the rightful owners, however, have shown no compassion for these religious structures or for the cultural and spiritual heritage they embody. They cheered and applauded while deliberately destroying and desecrating these sacred places of worship and religious faith,” he said.

-Khmer Times-