Thailand Clarifies Lord Vishnu Statue Removal, Cites Security Needs Amid Cambodia Border Tensions

The dispute over a Vishnu statue on the Thailand-Cambodia border raises sovereignty questions and security concerns. Thailand frames the demolition as a border operation, while Cambodia asserts the statue lies within its territory. Diplomatic responses and border-management explanations follow, with emphasis on maintaining religious sensitivity and regional stability.

India’s criticism of the alleged demolition of a Lord Vishnu statue along the Thailand-Cambodia border was followed by a Thai clarification, which stressed security concerns. Thai authorities said the structure did not sit at a recognised religious site and that its removal related to border control needs.

A statement from the Thai-Cambodian border press centre said, "The actions were not intended to involve religion, beliefs, or disrespect any sacred entities, but were solely for the purpose of area management and security, following the Thai side's regaining control of areas under Thailand's sovereignty," signalling an attempt to ease religious sensitivities after India objected.

Thailand Cambodia border Vishnu statue dispute and Cambodia’s territorial claim

Cambodian officials, however, insisted the Lord Vishnu statue stood within Cambodia’s boundary. Earlier, Kim Chanpanha, a government spokesman in the border province of Preah Vihear, told AFP that the Vishnu statue was located inside Cambodian territory and pointed to a specific sector. "The statue was in our area in the An Ses area," said Chanpanha.

Thailand Cambodia border Vishnu statue removal and sovereignty narrative

Thailand framed the demolition as part of a broader security operation. In its statement, Thailand reportedly said Cambodian soldiers had installed the “symbols” to extend control. Officials described the statues as instruments used to claim sovereignty over what Thailand regarded as its own land.

The Thai account linked the dismantling directly to a specific military move. "Following the operation on December 22, 2025, the Thai army successfully recaptured the Chong An Ma area. Subsequently, army engineers dismantled the Hindu deity statues near the casino, which the Thai side viewed as symbols erected by Cambodian soldiers to illegally claim sovereignty over Thai territory," the statement read.

India had earlier described the reported demolition as a 'disrespectful act’, after the statue was allegedly destroyed by the Thai military on Monday, following more than two weeks of clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces along the border, placing extra diplomatic scrutiny on how both neighbours handled religious structures.