(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts issued a statement on Thursday (Dec. 11) condemning Thai military for continuing to destroy Ta Krabey temple.

“After suffering heavy destruction from Thai military attacks on 9 December 2025, Ta Krabey Temple, a sacred site of Cambodia, has once again come under renewed shelling on 10 December 2025, resulting in the complete devastation of its appearance and architectural structure, although the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has already made its appeal,” according to the statement seen by Fresh News on Thursday (Dec. 12).

“Ta Krabey Temple was built in the 11th century during the reigns of King Suryavarman I and King Udayadityavarman II. It is located in Phum Semnonorom 1, Kouk Khpous Commune, Banteay Ampil District, Oddar Meanchey Province. This ancient heritage site has been diligently preserved by Cambodian cultural institutions and deeply revered through the beliefs, traditions, and customs of the Cambodian people. As a symbol of the flourishing Khmer civilization, the temple, protected by Cambodians and peacefully resting in its forested mountain sanctuary, untouched by nature or time, has now been destroyed in an instant by the Thai military,” the statement added.

“The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts continues to strongly condemn this immoral action by the Thai military against cultural heritage. This constitutes a grave crime against heritage, an uncivilized and barbaric act, and a continued violation of international conventions for the protection of cultural property, including the 1954 and 1972 Conventions.”

According to the statement, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts calls upon nations around the world, concerned international organizations, and the global community to join in condemning this criminal act and to urge the Thai military to immediately cease all destruction of cultural heritage and end its aggression, instead seeking peaceful solutions in full respect of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration.

Together with the people of Cambodia, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts mourns the total destruction of Ta Krabey Temple and records this criminal act in the historical account of Thai military devastation. Although Ta Krabey Temple has been almost entirely destroyed, it remains a symbol of Khmer civilization and a testament to cultural tragedy, a lesson for future generations to cherish and protect cultural heritage, and to prevent such crimes from ever occurring again anywhere in the world.
=FRESH NEWS