Cambodia Rejects Thai Claim on Historical Heritage, CMAC Director General States

On September 22, Heng Ratana, Director General of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), issued a clear rebuttal via his official social media channels concerning claims made by Thailand regarding Cambodia's historical heritage. Director General Ratana stated, "Cambodia possesses magnificent historical heritage spanning from the prehistoric era to approximately 2,000 years of the Christian era, with countless pieces of evidence. This includes astounding architectural achievements such as temples, inscriptions, literature, and rich tangible and intangible cultural arts." He further emphasized, "With such a long and rich history, there is absolutely no reason for Cambodians to plagiarize or falsify the history of any other nation." He urged every citizen to protect and preserve the ancestral heritage for the long term. This statement is understood to be a response to remarks made by Thailand's Minister of Culture, who claimed that an image of an ancient Cambodian woman displayed at Miss Universe Cambodia 2026 originated from Thailand. According to the Research Center for Culture and Innovation at the Royal University of Fine Arts, the ancient Cambodian woman depicted in the display image is a dancer named "Sok," a royal ballet performer during the reign of King Norodom. She married Paul Le Faucheur, a high-ranking French naval officer, and they had a daughter. The images were taken by Emile Gsell in the 1860s, and related photographs can be found on websites such as Wikimedia Commons, the Centre de la Confédération Africaine, and the Musée des Confluences. Source: CPP Cambodia