Cambodia Accuses Thailand of Heritage Destruction at UNESCO Forum; Thai Side Avoids Direct Rebuttal

Mr. Sous Yara, leading a delegation from the Cambodian People's Party, attended the 48th session of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee (WHC) held in Busan, South Korea, from July 26-29, 2026. He raised the issue of destruction of world heritage sites in the Asia-Pacific region. The session unanimously adopted a resolution condemning the destruction of world heritage during armed conflicts, referencing the 1954 Hague Convention, the 1970 UNESCO Convention, and UN Security Council resolutions. It called upon parties to conflicts to ensure the protection of heritage and avoid its use for military purposes. Speaking as a partner institution of UNESCO, Mr. Sous Yara emphasized the current state of world heritage destruction in the Asia-Pacific region, which requires responsibility and condemnation in accordance with international law. He also highlighted the importance of connecting civilizations and world heritage sites through 'ancient sister city' friendship networks to promote peace and conflict resolution. Furthermore, he advocated for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the protection and preservation of cultural heritage. Meanwhile, the Thai delegation, during its turn at the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, avoided a direct response to accusations of past destruction of Cambodian cultural heritage by the Thai military. Although granted one minute to speak, the Thai representative did not admit to the destruction but rather defended their position by stating that Thailand focuses on protecting the buffer zones surrounding the entire heritage sites, not just parts of temples. This was likely intended to suggest that Thailand still contributes to the protection of world heritage and continues to cooperate with other countries in the region. This exchange highlighted the historical border issues and tensions between the two countries regarding the treatment of cultural heritage during past conflicts. The Thai side's reluctance to directly address the accusations suggests the complexity of the issue and their cautious approach to handling it on the international stage. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local