Thai Army Accuses Cambodia of Using Preah Vihear Temple as Military Base

Key summary

The Royal Thai Army has accused Cambodia of utilizing the Preah Vihear Temple complex as a military base to launch attacks against Thai troops and civilian communities. On Wednesday, October 21, Army deputy spokesman Col. Ritcha Suksuwanon stated that Cambodia misrepresented the situation by citing a UNESCO-related assessment to allege that Thailand violated international law. Army spokesman Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree rejected these claims, asserting that Cambodian forces deployed military equipment and ammunition stockpiles within the temple complex. The Thai military identified specific items found at the site as grenade launchers, artillery, and anti-drone systems, which they claim were used to attack Thai forces and civilians. The army argues that this deployment constitutes a violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, noting that the convention allows for temporary loss of special protection when cultural property is used for military purposes. Thailand's operations are described as self-defence under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, targeting military threats rather than civilians or heritage sites. The army disputes Cambodia's reliance on a draft assessment by the World Heritage Centre and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), attributing damage to the temple's integrity and outstanding universal value to its use as a military shield. The Thai military contends that Cambodia's claims of prioritizing conservation are inconsistent with the alleged presence of troops, weapons, and ammunition in and around the temple. Consequently, the army has called on the international community, UNESCO, and the public to consider information from all sides and urged Cambodia to cease using the ancient site for political and diplomatic purposes.