Ancient Temple Suffers War Wounds in Cambodia-Thailand Border Dispute

Three months after a ceasefire halted fighting between Cambodia and Thailand, the 11th-century Preah Vihear temple bears deep scars of combat that threaten its very existence. The Hindu temple, perched dramatically on a 525-meter cliff in the Dangrek Mountains, now stands silent, its ancient stones damaged by artillery and its future uncertain.

Built by the same Khmer Empire that constructed the famed Angkor Wat complex 160 kilometers southwest, Preah Vihear was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. Dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, the temple holds immense cultural significance for Cambodians despite the country’s later conversion to Buddhism.

Following two rounds of intense fighting last year, much of the structure has sustained significant damage. Cambodian officials now warn that portions of the temple may be in danger of collapse when the rainy season begins in late May.

“The temple has turned quiet, and its beauty looks so sorrowful because of the tragedy,” said Hem Sinath, archaeologist and deputy director-general of the National Authority for Preah Vihear, during a recent press visit.

Where tourists once admired elaborate carvings and sweeping views of the Cambodian plains, there is now stone debris, artillery craters, and burned vegetation. The site remains closed to visitors due to unstable walls and concerns about unexploded ordnance. Areas are cordoned off with warning signs about land mines – a familiar hazard in Cambodia after decades of civil war that ended in the 1990s.

According to a damage assessment released in January by Cambodia’s Culture Ministry, all five of the temple’s notable gateway pavilions were damaged, with three almost beyond recognition. An ancient northern staircase, previously restored through a U.S.-funded conservation project, sustained severe damage from repeated bombardment.

The ministry reported that the temple suffered damage in 142 locations during fighting in July, with an additional 420 locations damaged during more intense combat in December. “Experts have predicted that during the upcoming rainy season, some structures on the verge of collapsing could finally fall,” warned Hem Sinath.

Cambodian Information Minister Neth Pheaktra has accused Thai forces of deliberately targeting the temple. “Preah Vihear temple belongs to all humankind. It is not an enemy of Thailand,” he stated in an official communication.

Thailand has countered these accusations by claiming Cambodia militarized the complex, thereby voiding its protected status under international law. Thai officials allege that Cambodia installed weapons systems, stored ammunition, and used the site for surveillance, including a construction crane that Thailand claims served as part of a military command system.

Thai Army spokesperson Major General Winthai Suvaree has maintained that Thai forces targeted only military installations. Cambodia denies these allegations, insisting that the temple remains under civilian control and that security forces were present solely to protect the cultural heritage site.

The recent violence has had widespread humanitarian impacts. Cambodia reports that more than 640,000 people were displaced from border regions during the fighting, with nearly 37,000 still unable to return to their homes.

The temple, known as Phra Viharn to Thais, has been the center of territorial disputes since the 1950s. In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple and surrounding area of less than five square kilometers belong to Cambodia, a ruling reaffirmed in 2013.

For years before recent hostilities, the site welcomed visitors from both sides of the border, with many international tourists arriving via Thailand. However, UNESCO’s designation of the temple as a Cambodian heritage site in 2008 inflamed nationalist sentiments in Thailand, contributing to earlier armed conflicts in 2008 and 2011.

Restoration efforts now face significant challenges. Previous renovation projects funded by India, China, and the United States have been suspended since fighting erupted. Conservation staff, groundskeepers, and troops remain stationed at the temple, from which Thai soldiers can be seen just across the border.

“We have a plan; we want to do a repair — the sooner the better, but as you see, it depends on the situation along the border,” Hem Sinath explained, noting that urgent projects to prevent further deterioration are hindered by ongoing security concerns while the ceasefire remains fragile.

As both sides continue to blame each other for initiating the hostilities, the ancient temple stands as a silent witness to modern conflict, its future hanging in the balance between historical significance and contemporary geopolitical tensions.