World Heritage Under Attack: Thailand’s Military Breach of International Legal Obligations
World Heritage Under Attack: Thailand’s Military Breach of International Legal Obligations
The outbreak of war along the Cambodia-Thailand border on the morning of December 8, 2025, once again exposed the severe dangers in the border region and to the world-heritage sites of outstanding value. The Thai armed forces fired artillery and launched attacks into multiple points inside Cambodian territory — in areas like An Sês, the large Ta-muan temple complex, and the Preah Vihear Temple — heritage sites inscribed under the protection of UNESCO. Even though Cambodia has strongly observed a cease-fire, Thailand continues to violate it, using heavy weapons to shell and destroy Preah Vihear Temple, a location of historical preservation, as well as many other structures currently undergoing restoration under the Cambodia–India cooperation program and other international collaborations.
The Cambodian government has declared that this attack is a direct breach of the Peace Agreement signed in Kuala Lumpur on October 26, 2025 — witnessed by the United States and Malaysia. That agreement clearly established measures for non-use of force and responsibilities for maintaining regional peace. The shelling into the Preah Vihear area involves both cultural-heritage protections and community security, and has become a clear sign of disrespect for the international treaties that must be upheld.
The 1972 Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage and the 1954 Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict clearly require all states to observe security measures and safeguard heritage, even amid armed conflict. The case of destruction of preserved structures, ongoing restoration projects, and technical infrastructure in the fifth Ko Boreh zone is conclusive evidence of severe violations of these conventions.
Conservation experts, project staffs, and many local residents have been forced to relocate to safe areas, resulting in a temporary suspension of the multi-national restoration project jointly hosted by Cambodia, India, Japan, the United States, and China. This means that the threat is not just against Cambodian civilians, but also endangers a heritage of humanity — placing it at serious risk of collapse.
The Preah Vihear area is a site rich in long history, full of strategic conflicts and nationalist sentiments from Thai factions. Ever since Preah Vihear Temple was registered as a World Heritage site in 2008, the Thai military has provoked conflict there repeatedly. Their persistently harbored attitude suggests that if they cannot reclaim Preah Vihear Temple from Cambodia, they may be willing to destroy it entirely. This challenge is not just a bilateral dispute — it concerns international reputation and a state’s responsibility toward heritage shared by all humanity.
The heavy shelling of world-heritage property on December 8, 2025 is not just an ordinary military operation. It is a blatant demonstration of reckless disregard for every customary and legal norm worldwide—evidence that Thailand does not only aim to threaten peace and endanger iconic heritage, but may intend to erase Cambodia altogether — echoing statements reportedly made by a Thai official in a recent speech vowing to “destroy Cambodia down to the ground.” Nevertheless, Cambodia retains full rights to demand accountability and protect its heritage under international law.
Active international engagement — especially by UNESCO — is crucial to ensure that heritage conservation sites registered as world heritage are protected, and that Cambodian territory does not fall victim to aggression from any state. World heritage belongs to all humanity; protecting it is our shared duty.
By: Pin Vichey — Political Science Scholar
