Border Conflict
5 June 2026 9:51 AM• 2 hours ago• Lim_Rothanaksambath
Thai Military Destroyed Cambodia Temple Staircase, Even Further Plan to Celebrate the Invasion
PHNOM PENH – June 5, 2026 – The Thai military has destroyed a wooden staircase at K'nar Temple, a cultural heritage site inside Cambodian territory, and now plans to hold public events and collect entrance fees at nearby Ta Krabey Temple — an act Cambodia condemns as an attempt to celebrate its illegal invasion.
The staircase, comprising 1,181 wooden steps extending approximately 325 meters, was built by Cambodian authorities in 2017 to support conservation and provide access for visitors, researchers, and local communities. The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts called the deliberate destruction a serious violation of cultural heritage and an attempt to erase evidence of Cambodia's long-standing stewardship of the site.
Cambodia has protested Thailand's plan to organize public events, religious ceremonies, and tourism activities at Ta Krabey Temple on June 6-7, including the collection of entrance fees. The Ministry stated that both Ta Krabey and K'nar Temples lie within Cambodia's sovereign territory, as defined by the Franco-Siamese Treaties of 1904 and 1907. It described Thailand's planned activities as an unlawful exercise of authority and a serious violation of Cambodian sovereignty.
Thai military personnel deliberately attack on Cambodia cultural heritage and an attempt to erase evidence of Cambodia's long-standing stewardship of K'nar Temple on June, 2026.
The destruction of the temple staircase and the planned celebrations are the latest in a series of Thai military incursions dating back to 2025, including the use of F-16 fighter jets, cluster munitions, and heavy artillery that displaced over 640,000 civilians and damaged dozens of schools, hospitals, and temples — including the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear Temple.
Cambodia called on the Royal Thai Government to immediately cease all such activities and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its sovereignty and cultural heritage through peaceful legal and diplomatic means. "Any attempt to legitimize the occupation of Cambodian territory through cultural or tourism operations is unacceptable," the Ministry stated.
Source: Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Kingdom of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, June 5, 2026.
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
The staircase, comprising 1,181 wooden steps extending approximately 325 meters, was built by Cambodian authorities in 2017 to support conservation and provide access for visitors, researchers, and local communities. The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts called the deliberate destruction a serious violation of cultural heritage and an attempt to erase evidence of Cambodia's long-standing stewardship of the site.
Cambodia has protested Thailand's plan to organize public events, religious ceremonies, and tourism activities at Ta Krabey Temple on June 6-7, including the collection of entrance fees. The Ministry stated that both Ta Krabey and K'nar Temples lie within Cambodia's sovereign territory, as defined by the Franco-Siamese Treaties of 1904 and 1907. It described Thailand's planned activities as an unlawful exercise of authority and a serious violation of Cambodian sovereignty.
Thai military personnel deliberately attack on Cambodia cultural heritage and an attempt to erase evidence of Cambodia's long-standing stewardship of K'nar Temple on June, 2026.The destruction of the temple staircase and the planned celebrations are the latest in a series of Thai military incursions dating back to 2025, including the use of F-16 fighter jets, cluster munitions, and heavy artillery that displaced over 640,000 civilians and damaged dozens of schools, hospitals, and temples — including the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear Temple.
Cambodia called on the Royal Thai Government to immediately cease all such activities and reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its sovereignty and cultural heritage through peaceful legal and diplomatic means. "Any attempt to legitimize the occupation of Cambodian territory through cultural or tourism operations is unacceptable," the Ministry stated.
Source: Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Kingdom of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, June 5, 2026.
Reported by The Khmer Daily Network
