Cambodia’s Culture Ministry Condemns Thai Military for Destroying Ta Krabey Temple, Urges Global Action

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 9, 2025) — Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts on Tuesday condemned the Thai military for destroying Ta Krabey Temple, calling the attack a “profoundly immoral” act and a blatant disregard for humanity’s shared cultural heritage.

The ministry said the temple’s destruction represents contempt for culture, civilization and the sacred patrimony preserved by Khmer ancestors. It urged UNESCO, ASEAN and the international community to denounce the attacks and press Thailand to halt further destruction of cultural sites.

Officials noted that the assault follows damage to the Temple of Preah Vihear on Dec. 8, when conservation facilities under a Cambodia–India restoration project were destroyed. Preah Vihear, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008, has long been a flashpoint in Cambodian–Thai disputes.

The ministry said indiscriminate attacks continue against civilian areas and heritage sites, warning that urgent national and international intervention is required.

It vowed to pursue all legal and diplomatic mechanisms to hold Thailand accountable under international law and ensure the destruction is recorded in the historical record of humanity.