‘Inside Our Territory’: Cambodia Slams Thai Army for Demolishing Lord Vishnu Statue

Cambodia has strongly criticised Thailand after a Hindu statue was demolished in a disputed border zone, a move that has added fresh tension to an already volatile military standoff between the two neighbours.

The statue of Lord Vishnu was destroyed earlier this week in an area Cambodia claims lies within its territory, triggering diplomatic outrage and renewed debate over the fragile border arrangement between the two countries.

Cambodia Says Statue Was Inside Its Territory

Cambodian officials said the demolition took place in the An Ses area of the Preah Vihear province, which Phnom Penh maintains falls on its side of the border.

"The statue was inside our territory in the An Ses area," Kim Chanpanha, a government spokesman in the border province of Preah Vihear, told AFP.

Chanpanha said the demolition occurred on Monday at a location roughly 100 metres from the Thai border. However, satellite images on Google Maps appeared to place the statue around 400 metres from the border line, highlighting the ambiguity that has long plagued the frontier.

Condemnation Over Destruction of Religious Symbols

Cambodia condemned the demolition, calling it an attack on religious heritage respected by multiple faiths across the region.

"We condemn the destruction of ancient temples and statues that are worshipped by Buddhist and Hindu followers," Chanpanha said.

The Lord Vishnu statue, which was constructed in 2014, was reportedly toppled using a bulldozer by Thai military engineers. A video showing the statue being destroyed circulated widely on social media, fuelling public anger and calls for accountability. Thai authorities have not issued any official response so far.

Border Clashes and Temple Damage Claims

The statue incident comes amid renewed fighting along the Thai Cambodian border, which reignited earlier this month. According to AFP, the clashes have left more than 40 people dead and displaced nearly one million civilians.

Both countries have blamed each other for triggering the violence. Cambodia has repeatedly accused Thai forces of damaging ancient temple ruins during military operations, while Bangkok has alleged that Cambodian troops were positioning soldiers near historic stone structures along the frontier.

India Flags Concerns Over Preah Vihear Temple

Earlier this month, India raised concerns over damage to conservation facilities at Preah Vihear, a 12th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and located near the contested border.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India was closely monitoring developments and stressed the importance of safeguarding the UNESCO World Heritage Site, describing it as a shared symbol of human civilisation.

The long-running dispute between Cambodia and Thailand stems from disagreements over colonial-era border demarcation along their 800-kilometre frontier, where several ancient temple ruins continue to sit at the centre of overlapping territorial claims.