Cambodia condemns Thai activities at Ta Krabei Temple

Thai soldiers and monks at Ta Krabei Temple. 22nd Infantry Battalion, Task Force 2

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Synopsis: Thailand is illegally occupying and building around the centuries-old Khmer place of worship in a disputed border area, Culture and Fine Arts Ministry says.

The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts on Tuesday issued a statement strongly opposing Thai activities at Ta Krabei Temple, including actions on the temple, and the construction of infrastructure in its surrounding area.

The ministry reiterated that Ta Krabei Temple is an ancient site that has long been preserved by Cambodian cultural institutions as a place of worship in accordance with the beliefs, traditions, and customs of the Cambodian people.

It added that the temple was almost destroyed by the Thai military during the Cambodia-Thailand border conflict, noting that Bangkok launched renewed attacks on December 7 and 21, 2025.

More recently, the Thai military has reportedly constructed infrastructure near the temple, further escalating tensions and altering the situation in the area.

The ministry described these actions as serious violations of the fundamental and irrefutable principles of international law, particularly the ban on the use of force to occupy territory. It called on the Thai side to immediately halt all destructive activities and projects around Ta Krabei Temple, which it said is located on Cambodia’s sovereign territory, and urged both sides to pursue a peaceful resolution of the border issue in accordance with the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaties.

Ta Krabei Temple is located in a disputed border area. The ancient Khmer temple, built during the reigns of King Suryavarman I and King Udayadityavarman II in the 11th or 12th century, is situated in Sen Monorom 1 village, Kork Khpos commune, Banteay Ampil district, Oddar Meanchey province. Constructed of sandstone, the temple features gopurams facing all four cardinal directions and is dedicated to Brahmanism.

Thuy Chanthuon, an archaeologist, said the ministry is committed to protecting national heritage and countering what he described as a strategy of territorial encroachment through cultural destruction.

He denounced the Thai military actions, calling the destruction of national heritage an act of aggression, warning that the construction of infrastructure near Ta Krabei Temple poses a serious threat to Khmer cultural identity.

He urged the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts to file complaints with UNESCO and other international organisations over the destruction of Khmer temples, religious sites, and cultural heritage.

“It’s not only the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, but all Khmer people must speak out and protest in every way possible,” Chanthuon said.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, during renewed large-scale operations from December 7 to 27 last year, Thailand launched assaults on Cambodian territory and invaded, occupied, and effectively controlled areas clearly located within Cambodia, including the O’Smach area, Khnar Temple, Ta Krabei Temple, and Ta Moan Thom Temple in Oddar Meanchey province.

-Khmer Times-