BREAKING: Cambodia Lodges Strong Protest Over K’nar Temple Stairway Destruction

Terry Felix On June 5, 2026 - 9:09 am In Asia Pacific 2mn Read

PHNOM PENH, June 5, 2026 — Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has strongly condemned what it described as the destruction by Thai military personnel of a wooden stairway leading to K’nar Temple and lodged a formal protest against Thailand’s planned tourism and public activities at Ta Krabey Temple.

In a statement issued on Friday, the ministry said the stairway, constructed by Cambodian authorities in 2017, consisted of 1,181 wooden steps stretching approximately 325 metres to K’nar Temple. The structure was built to support conservation efforts and facilitate access for visitors, researchers and local communities.

The ministry described the destruction as a serious act of damage to cultural heritage and alleged that it formed part of broader efforts to alter conditions on the ground and erase evidence of Cambodia’s longstanding administration and stewardship of the temple and surrounding cultural landscape.

Cambodia also strongly objected to Thailand’s reported plans to organise public events, religious ceremonies, tourism activities and ticketed visits at Ta Krabey Temple on June 6-7.

According to the statement, both Ta Krabey and K’nar temples are located within Cambodian sovereign territory under the Franco-Siamese Treaties of 1904 and 1907 and related international legal instruments.

The ministry argued that the organisation of tourism activities, the reception of visitors and the collection of entrance fees by Thai authorities at Ta Krabey Temple constitute an unlawful exercise of authority on Cambodian territory and a violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Cambodia further rejected what it called attempts to legitimise or normalise the occupation of Cambodian territory through tourism, cultural, religious or administrative activities, insisting that such actions have no legal effect on Cambodia’s sovereignty claims.

The ministry called on the Thai government to immediately cease all activities that could damage, alter or interfere with cultural heritage sites located within Cambodian territory and urged Thailand to avoid actions that could aggravate tensions or undermine efforts toward a peaceful settlement of the issue.

Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its sovereignty, preserving its cultural heritage and pursuing peaceful legal and diplomatic solutions in accordance with international law.