In its statement dated July 26, the National Authority for Preah Vihear demanded that the Thai side immediately stop shelling and dropping bombs from aircraft on Preah Vihear Temple and its surroundings, as well as endangering people throughout the temple area.
The National Authority for Preah Vihear strongly condemned what it described as acts of aggression by the Thai armed forces on July 24–25, 2025. It said these acts had directly affected and severely damaged the structures of the World Heritage site of Preah Vihear Temple and its surroundings, a precious historical and cultural heritage of the Khmer people with outstanding universal value for humanity.
The National Authority for Preah Vihear considered the attacks involving artillery fire and aerial bombing by F-16 aircraft to be grave and unacceptable violations. It said they contravened the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict; its 1999 Second Protocol, concerning enhanced protection and accountability for cultural heritage; and the 1972 UNESCO Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage, to which, it said, Thailand was a State Party.
The National Authority for Preah Vihear said that Thailand was a member of the International Coordinating Committee for the Conservation and Promotion of Preah Vihear Temple (ICC-Preah Vihear), established by UNESCO Executive Board Decision 195EX/32 in 2014. It said China and India were joint co-chairs, with other member countries including Belgium, France, Japan, the Republic of Korea and the United States, whose roles and duties included contributing to the conservation and promotion of the World Heritage site of Preah Vihear Temple.
The National Authority for Preah Vihear also expressed regret that Thailand had not fulfilled its duties under international laws and conventions, as a member of UNESCO and the World Heritage Committee, to conserve and promote Preah Vihear Temple. Instead, the authority said, Thailand had directly and severely damaged the World Heritage site, caused thousands of families to evacuate and endangered many civilians.
The National Authority for Preah Vihear reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to protecting and conserving the World Heritage site of Preah Vihear Temple, even as it faced armed aggression from a neighbouring country.
By: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត
