CMAC Chief Welcomes International Report on Preah Vihear Temple Damage

PHNOM PENH, Sept 10, 2026 (KPT) — The destruction inflicted on Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple is now being brought to wider international attention, with a UNESCO‑ICOMOS assessment documenting severe damage to the ancient Khmer heritage site, Cambodian Mine Action Centre Director General Heng Ratana said Thursday. Ratana welcomed the release of the report, calling it an important step in revealing the extent of damage suffered by the UNESCO World Heritage site. “The cry for justice for Preah Vihear Temple, the heritage of Khmer ancestors and a World Heritage site, has gradually been revealed,” he said. CMAC has carried out surveys and assessed explosive remnants of war at the temple. Its findings indicated Thai forces dropped aerial bombs and fired at 501 targets, damaging more than 560 locations. Ratana said the attacks showed evidence of strategic planning and coordination, alleging an intention to destroy or seriously damage the temple. For Ratana, the international assessment represents more than a record of physical destruction. He said it was also a step toward ensuring accountability and preventing the damage from being forgotten. “Those responsible should ultimately answer for the destruction of a monument built by Khmer ancestors and preserved for future generations,” he said. Preah Vihear Temple, inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2008, has long symbolised Cambodia’s cultural identity. The International Court of Justice ruled in 1962 that the temple lies in Cambodian territory. The UNESCO‑ICOMOS mission, conducted from March 1–6, 2026, documented 142 damaged areas linked to attacks in July 2025 and a further 420 following assaults in December. The scale of destruction was described as “unprecedented,” with “no area spared.”