Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defense spokesperson said Cambodia rejected what she described as disinformation from the Thai aggressor side alleging that Cambodia had shelled Ta Moan temple with BM 21 rockets. She said the temple was built by Khmer ancestors and was lawful property within Cambodia’s sovereign territory on the basis of legal maps. Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, Under Secretary of State and spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense, made the statement at a press conference on the latest situation regarding Thai aggression against Cambodian sovereignty, held at the Office of the Council of Ministers on the morning of July 27, 2025.
Lieutenant General Maly Socheata said Ta Moan temple was in Cambodia’s Oddar Meanchey Province, so Cambodia had no reason to destroy its own property. She said it was the Thai side that had these malicious intentions. She further emphasized: “A short time ago, the official page of the Thai Army also published a claim that Cambodia had shelled Ta Moan temple with BM 21 rockets. Ta Moan temple was built by Khmer ancestors and is within Cambodia’s sovereign territory on the basis of legal maps, in Oddar Meanchey Province, Cambodia. Therefore, Cambodia has no reason to destroy its own property. On the contrary, it is only the Thai side that has all these malicious intentions.”
The Cambodian Ministry of National Defense spokesperson highlighted what she described as repeated Thai dissemination of exaggerated, misleading, distorted and false information intended to smear Cambodia. She said the ministry rejected and strongly condemned the Thai side’s baseless and irresponsible accusations that Cambodia had initiated the hostilities. She called the allegation entirely untrue and a desperate attempt to divert attention from Thailand’s repeated violations of Cambodian sovereignty and international law.
According to the Cambodian Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, the indisputable fact was that the Thai side had initiated the aggression and that Thai troops continued to invade Cambodian sovereign territory aggressively and with no regard for international law. She said these repeated actions had not only intensified but had expanded to more geographical locations, with attacks in all directions and without distinction of targets, causing destruction daily. She said they were aimed at destroying civilian infrastructure, including monasteries, health centers, population centers, markets, villages and Preah Vihear temple, a World Heritage site. She stated: “This puts innocent civilians, especially women, children and older people, in danger. These actions are inhumane and brutally cruel, and clearly violate humanitarian principles, international law and the Geneva Conventions.”
Lieutenant General Maly Socheata further said these deliberate and premeditated acts of aggression had continued despite the repeated efforts of US President Donald Trump to seek a ceasefire, efforts that had received clear and public support from Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet. She said the continued violations of Cambodian sovereignty, aggressive military operations and disregard for international law posed a grave threat to the international order, peace and stability, not only at the Thai border but throughout the region. She said these actions undermined all efforts toward a peaceful solution and clearly demonstrated the Thai side’s intention to intensify its aggression rather than reduce the conflict.
The Ministry of National Defense spokesperson also called on the Thai army to stop lying immediately and stop using false pretexts to justify its illegal aggression. She said the international community must hold Thailand accountable for its crimes and demanded an end to all hostilities.
By: KPS99TV