Cambodia Defends Its Temples; Thailand Bombs Them to Seize Cambodian Land

PHNOM PENH, September 14, 2026 – While Cambodian troops fight to protect the nation's ancient temples, Thai forces bomb those same temples to occupy Cambodian land.

That is the double standard at the heart of Thailand's accusations. Bangkok claims Cambodia used Preah Vihear Temple as a military position—yet Thai soldiers in uniform, carrying weapons and occupying trenches behind tire barriers, were filmed at Ta Mone Thom Temple during Thailand's invasion of Cambodian territory.

The world has seen this before. On July 21, 2008, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon issued a formal statement expressing deep concern over "the build-up of troops" near Preah Vihear Temple and called for restraint and a peaceful, diplomatic resolution. Eighteen years later, Thailand did not just ignore that call—it invaded, bombed civilians, and destroyed Khmer heritage sites.

And the International Court of Justice has already ruled. In 1962, the ICJ held that Preah Vihear Temple sits in Cambodian territory and ordered Thailand to withdraw its forces. In 2013, the Court reaffirmed that ruling. Those judgments are final and without appeal. Thailand cannot claim to respect international law while defying the world's highest court.

The destruction did not stop at Preah Vihear. On December 10, 2025, Thai forces continued their assault on Ta Krabey Temple in Oddar Meanchey province. Five days later, Ta Pech Bridge—an 800-year-old bridge built under King Jayavarman VII—was struck by MK-82 bombs reportedly dropped from Thai F-16 jets, damaging its structure and 68 sections of its railing. Cambodia had restored that bridge in eight phases since 2015. The war stopped the work.

The evidence is not Cambodia's alone. UNESCO and ICOMOS jointly documented serious harm to the integrity and Outstanding Universal Value of Preah Vihear Temple—a finding published by UNESCO, not Cambodia. The Diplomat, AFP, Reuters, AP, and Al Jazeera have all reported on the destruction and displacement.

If Thailand's Joint Information Centre uses images of soldiers and weapons at a temple to accuse Cambodia of militarizing heritage, the same standard must apply to Thai forces at Ta Mone Thom. If Thailand wants to speak of truth, it must present the whole truth. If it wants to speak of law, it must apply that law to itself—including the binding rulings of the ICJ.

Until Thailand answers these questions, its accusations ring hollow. The world is watching. And the Khmer people will not forget.

Reported by The Khmer Today