Cambodia issued a formal protest on March 13 against a series of recent activities by Thai armed forces that it described as unlawful, according to a Cambodian Foreign Ministry press release. It cited construction and excavation on the Preah Vihear temple promontory and the road towards Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara, in the Bos Sbov–Choam Te area of Preah Vihear province, and around Ta Krabey temple, Chob Angkun and Daeum Trang in Oddar Meanchey province.
The ministry said Thai military personnel and civilians carried out unlawful construction and excavation on the Preah Vihear temple promontory between February 23 and 25, including a guard post and a road towards Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara.
It said Thai armed forces and monks subsequently continued building a large Buddha statue in Bos Sbov–Choam Te, Choam Khsant district, Preah Vihear province. Cambodia said the work began on March 7, 2026, and continued despite repeated requests from its side to stop.
The ministry said Thai forces were still building permanent infrastructure around Ta Krabey temple, including concrete roads, iron stairs and Buddha statues, with the intention of creating a tourism area and military position. It said similar activities had taken place in Chob Angkun and Daeum Trang, Oddar Meanchey, where Thai forces installed flags and built concrete roads.
The ministry maintained that these activities violated Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and ran contrary to the International Court of Justice’s 1962 and 2013 judgments, which it said affirmed Cambodian sovereignty over Preah Vihear temple and its entire promontory. It also cited Article 5 of the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding and the spirit of the December 27, 2025 joint statement of the third special General Border Committee meeting.
Written by Nget Pisant
