Cambodia Urges UNESCO Probe into Preah Vihear Attacks

Cambodia has formally requested that UNESCO dispatch a team of experts to inspect and assess damage to the World Heritage Site of Preah Vihear Temple, in preparation for a potential legal case against Thailand over alleged destruction.

Kong Puthika, Director-General of the National Authority for Preah Vihear, told Kampuchea Thmey on the morning of August 22, 2025, that a full assessment cannot yet be conducted. Authorities are awaiting stabilization of the situation and confirmation from the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) that the site is safe for inspection.

“We are requesting UNESCO to send experts to help assess the damage,” Puthika said. “When the official report is released, with international experts involved, it will be clear, credible, and accepted by both Cambodia and the international community.”

He added that once the assessment is complete and an internationally recognized report is issued, Cambodia’s legal team will consider pursuing international legal action to hold Thailand accountable and seek compensation for the damage inflicted on the temple.

A report by the Preah Vihear National Authority dated July 25 documented 19 attacks by the Thai army on the temple, with its first, second, and third towers suffering the most damage.

On August 20, following a ceasefire, the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense facilitated an inspection of the temple and surrounding areas by the Interim Observer Team (IOT). The inspection revealed extensive damage caused by heavy Thai shelling, including 155mm artillery rounds.

In a statement issued on July 27, the Ministry of Culture declared that Thailand’s actions constituted a grave violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict, the 1999 Second Protocol to the Hague Convention, and the 1972 UNESCO World Heritage Convention. The ministry further noted that under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the intentional destruction of cultural heritage may be considered a war crime.

By Hun Sirivadh