UNESCO, ICOMOS report: Preah Vihear Temple extensively damaged by Thai shelling
Specialists from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC) and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) inspect Preah Vihear Temple in March. WHC-ICOMOS Report
Specialists from the UNESCO World Heritage Centre (WHC) and International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) have released a joint report which details the extensive damage to the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear Temple caused by last year’s border conflict between Cambodia and Thailand.
The report was published by the WHC’s Mechtild Rössler and ICOMOS’ Pierre Smars, who took part in a March 1-6 advisory mission to the temple.
The 100-page report features multiple images of the damage to the 9th century temple.
The advisory mission came at the request of Cambodian authorities.
It was the first official international mission to the site since the 2009 UNESCO-ICOMOS Reinforced Monitoring Mission.
According to the report, the inspectors observed several architectural elements that were destroyed by direct hits, or heavily damaged, dislocated or overturned by explosions.
They recorded a pediment that fell to the ground, the dislocation of a western pillar at the temple’s sanctuary; a destroyed western pillar; the collapse of the eastern façade at Gopura V; and damage to stairways and gates, among other damage.
Numerous decorative elements, including inscriptions and reliefs, suffered extensive damage, with fallen pediments and fragments throughout the grounds.
The report said the surfaces of most walls were disfigured by shrapnel, and that cliffs had been weakened by heavy shelling, endangering their stability.
The inspectors noted multiple craters and that explosive remnants of war (ERWs) and unexploded ordnance (UXO) were scattered across the temple and the surrounding land.
They also observed that tourist infrastructure and restoration equipment, such as cranes, a stone-cutting workshop, saws, weather station and interpretation centre, were destroyed.
The specialists were informed by the National Authority for Preah Vihear (NAPV) that the authorities had identified 562 impact sites, including 142 from the July strikes and 420 from December.
They were also briefed by the Cambodian Mine Action Center (CMAC), who informed them that the Thai military had struck the temple directly with medium and heavy artillery such as 105mm and 155mm shells, including cluster munitions, as well as drone strikes and mortar shells.
“The mission analysed that the strikes have wreaked havoc, leaving a profound and detrimental impact on the integrity of the property. A number of architectural elements were completely destroyed by direct, heavily damaged, dislocated, and/or overturned by severe blasts,” said the report, adding that the conflicts greatly affected the property’s integrity and authenticity.
It made several recommendations for the practical conservation, management and international support for the World Heritage site.
“The site should be cleared of UXO, while its damaged condition is further documented. The most unstable structures should be secured, and damaged architectural elements, surviving fragments and areas now exposed to heightened risk should be protected. The arrival of the rainy season is a further reason to act promptly,” it said.
“The mission suggests multilateral negotiations to obtain guarantees that no further acts of hostilities will occur and that UXO clearance and other urgent measures can proceed. A concerted methodology between the UXO clearing team and heritage personnel should be developed,” it added.
It urged Thailand’s involvement in ensuring that emergency work can start as soon as possible.
“The mission advises that Thailand’s involvement must be envisaged and enabled. It is urgent to ensure that emergency work can proceed without any risk for workers, site management and international experts and teams,” it added.
-Phnom Penh Post-
