The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts issued a statement, summarized as follows:
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts of the Kingdom of Cambodia strongly condemns the recent destruction by Thai military forces of the wooden staircase leading up to Prasat Khnar. This structure, consisting of 1,181 steps and spanning 325 meters, was built by Cambodian authorities in 2017 to facilitate cultural heritage conservation, management, and access for visitors, researchers, and local communities.
The intentional destruction of this infrastructure causes severe damage to cultural heritage and Cambodia’s long-term conservation efforts. It is a clear attempt to alter the facts on the ground, create a fait accompli, and erase physical evidence of Cambodia’s long-standing administration, conservation, and maintenance of the temple site and its surrounding cultural landscape. Such actions violate the fundamental principles of cultural heritage protection and run counter to state parties’ obligations to safeguard cultural property for present and future generations.
Concurrently, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts strongly protests and entirely rejects Thailand’s plans to organize public events, religious ceremonies, tourism activities, open Prasat Ta Krabey to the public, and sell admission tickets, which are scheduled for June 6 and 7, 2026.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts reaffirms that Prasat Ta Krabey and Prasat Khnar are cultural and historical heritage sites situated within the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Cambodia, as clearly defined by the 1904 and 1907 Franco-Siamese treaties and relevant legal instruments recognized under international law.
The organization of public activities, hosting of tourists, and collection of admission fees by Thai authorities at Prasat Ta Krabey constitute an illegal exercise of authority over Cambodian territory and a serious violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. These unacceptable actions aim to create a false impression of Thai administrative control over Cambodia’s cultural heritage sites.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts strictly rejects any attempt to legitimize or normalize the unlawful occupation of Cambodian territory through tourism, cultural, religious, or administrative activities. These activities carry no legal effect and cannot alter Cambodia’s lawful sovereignty over Prasat Ta Krabey.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts calls upon the Royal Government of Thailand to immediately cease all above-mentioned activities, including tourism operations, ticket sales, and any actions that cause damage, alter, or disturb cultural heritage sites located within Cambodian territory. The Ministry also urges the Thai side to respect its obligations under international law, refrain from actions that could escalate tensions, and avoid any measures that could undermine a peaceful resolution to this matter.
The Kingdom of Cambodia remains firmly committed to defending its sovereignty, conserving its cultural heritage, and pursuing peaceful legal and diplomatic solutions in accordance with international law to protect the nation’s territorial integrity and cultural legacy.
Friday, the 5th Waning Moon of Jyestha, Year of the Horse, Eighth Suk, B.E. 2570
Phnom Penh, June 5, 2026
