Cambodia Denounces 7 Million Thai Cluster Bombs as Experts Race to Save Preah Vihear

PHNOM PENH — Sept. 29, 2026: H.E. Heng Ratana has condemned the use of cluster munitions on Cambodian soil as a clear violation of international humanitarian law, as conservation experts from ICC-Angkor assessed emergency work to stabilise Preah Vihear Temple, damaged during the 2025 armed conflict with Thailand.

The Third Review Conference on the Implementation of the International Convention on the Ban of Cluster Munitions, held in Vientiane, Laos, issued a declaration condemning the use of cluster munitions by any actor, under any circumstances and in any form. H.E. Heng Ratana said the declaration makes clear that such use must stop and that obligations under international humanitarian law and human rights law must be respected.

He said the use of approximately 6 to 7 million M42, M46 and M85 cluster munitions by Thai soldiers against Cambodia's territorial integrity, Cambodian military and police personnel, and especially civilian targets constitutes a genuine violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law. According to the statement, the munitions affected 349 villages — 335 of them fully researched — with an impacted area of nearly 300,000 hectares. More than 90,000 families, equivalent to over 350,000 citizens, have been affected, along with schools, hospitals, health centres, pagodas, rice fields, farms, houses and general civilian physical infrastructure.

The scale of that damage was on display days later as ICC-Angkor experts inspected conservation and development progress at the Koh Ker and Preah Vihear temple complexes and provided recommendations to the National Authority for Preah Vihear.

On Sept. 27, 2026, the experts assessed work at the Koh Ker area and advised the Authority's technical team on conservation at Prasat Khnar, Prasat Kok Krong, Prasat Krochab, Prasat Prallung Tbong, Prasat Kraham within the main temple compound, and Prasat Pram, as well as the arrangement of tourist circuits.

On the morning of Sept. 28, 2026, the delegation continued to Preah Vihear Temple to review emergency conservation work from the Poy Tadi point and the First to Fifth Gopura, which were damaged during the 2025 armed conflict, along with the drainage system being installed to remove water from the temple. The experts provided additional recommendations on high-risk locations where National Authority for Preah Vihear technicians have already installed supports, and on other sites requiring continued conservation support.

Source: H.E. Heng Ratana

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National Authority for Preah Vihear

https://napv.gov.kh/dailynews/348-0

Reported by The Khmer Today