International Concern Mounts Over Thailand’s Destruction of Religious and Cultural Heritage in Cambodia

 

Recent actions attributed to the Royal Thai Army have raised serious international concerns regarding respect for international law, cultural heritage protection, and regional stability. Military-linked social media accounts in Thailand have circulated footage purportedly showing the seizure of areas within Cambodian territory amid the ongoing border tensions. Most troublingly, the footage depicts the deliberate destruction of a large statue of a Hindu deity situated on Cambodian soil, an act that has deeply offended religious communities and alarmed observers worldwide.

The video initially appeared to be shared with a sense of triumph. However, following public backlash, particularly from India, Thai authorities subsequently altered their narrative, suggesting the footage was shared unintentionally or casting doubt on its authenticity. This shifting explanation has raised legitimate questions about accountability, transparency, and responsibility.

On 24 December 2025, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued an official response to media inquiries regarding the incident. The MEA’s spokesperson, Shri Randhir Jaiswal, confirmed that India had taken note of reports concerning the destruction of a Hindu religious statue in an area affected by the Thailand–Cambodia border dispute. Emphasizing the shared civilizational heritage of Hindu and Buddhist traditions across Asia, the MEA stated that “notwithstanding territorial claims, such disrespectful acts hurt the sentiments of followers around the world and should not take place.” India further urged both parties to return to dialogue and diplomacy to avoid further loss of life and damage to property and heritage.

This authoritative statement underscores that the issue extends well beyond a bilateral dispute. At its core, it is a matter of international concern involving the protection of religious and cultural heritage during armed conflict, an obligation enshrined in international humanitarian law.

Thailand has repeatedly framed its military actions as acts of self-defense. However, the deliberate destruction of religious and cultural property cannot be justified under any interpretation of self-defense. Such actions contravene customary international humanitarian law and violate the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. In serious circumstances, they may even amount to war crimes.

Reports of Thailand’s deployment of T-50 fighter jets on 24 December 2025, conducting air operations deep inside Cambodian territory, including in Battambang and Siem Reap provinces, further heighten concern. These operations reportedly forced school closures and civilian evacuations, placing innocent lives at risk and dangerously escalating the conflict.

Cambodia, by contrast, has consistently reaffirmed its commitment to restraint, peaceful resolution, and respect for international law, repeatedly calling for dialogue rather than escalation. Thailand’s continued use of heavy weaponry, cross-border air operations, and destruction of cultural and religious symbols risks undermining regional peace and eroding the shared heritage that binds Southeast and South Asia together.

The international community, including the United Nations, ASEAN, the European Union, and influential global actors such as the United States, must take these developments seriously. Silence or inaction would establish a dangerous precedent, signaling that the sovereignty, cultural heritage, and religious freedoms of smaller nations can be violated without consequence. Such a precedent would weaken the rules-based international order and threaten broader global stability.

Thailand should be urged to immediately cease military escalation, fully respect international humanitarian and cultural protection laws, and engage sincerely in peaceful dialogue. Sustained international attention and pressure are essential, not only to prevent further deterioration of the situation, but also to uphold justice, peace, and respect for humanity’s shared cultural and religious heritage.

References

1. Ministry of External Affairs of India (MEA). (24 December 2025). Official response to media queries on reports of destruction of a Hindu religious statue in the Thailand–Cambodia border area. Government of India.
2. 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, and its Protocols. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
3. International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). Customary International Humanitarian Law: Rule 38 – Attacks against cultural property.
4. United Nations Charter, Article 2(4). Prohibition on the use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state.
5. UNESCO. Protection of Cultural Heritage in Armed Conflict. Normative framework and implementation guidelines.
6. ASEAN Charter. Principles of peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for sovereignty.

About the author: 

Thoeun Vongdy has been currently working in Japan International Cooperation Agency in Social Development & Governance Sections. He also serves as a lecturer in various universities in the Discipline of International Relations, Educational Psychology, Global Studies, etc. He also used to work for the foreign mission including Embassy of India in Cambodia. He obtained Master Degree of Politics, Specialization in International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), India. He has been pursuing Ph.D. of International Relations at University of Cambodia (UC). His interest papers in world politics, India-Cambodia, China-Cambodia as well security issues in world affairs.