Thailand Denies Intent to Destroy Preah Vihear, Demands Full Timeline Review
Thailand denied accusations of intentionally attacking Cambodia's Preah Vihear temple, claiming the UNESCO World Heritage site was used for military purposes and weapons storage. The Thai Air Force said its actions were defensive responses
On September 11, Air Vice Marshal Praphase Sonsaijai, Deputy Commander of the Royal Thai Air Force and director of the Thailand-Cambodia Joint Information Center, responded to allegations by Cambodia's Mine Action Centre that Thailand attacked Preah Vihear temple and intended to destroy the UNESCO World Heritage site. He stated that Thailand places the highest importance on protecting cultural heritage and has no intention to damage the temple. However, he noted that Thailand has evidence the area was used to store weapons, deploy troops, and launch attacks against Thai positions, causing harm to both Thai military personnel and civilians.
Under international humanitarian law, Saijai explained, when a site is used for military purposes, its use must be assessed according to facts and applicable law. Thailand's actions were aimed at military threats and self-defence, following principles of target discrimination, military necessity, and proportionality—not at attacking cultural heritage. He challenged investigators to examine the full timeline of who fired, from where, and at what targets, and the impact on Thai forces and civilians, stating Thailand is prepared to submit facts and evidence to independent review using equal standards for all parties.
When asked about allegations of 501 targets and over 560 damage points, Saijai said damage figures require verification but cannot alone prove intent. The origin of fire, sequence of events, military use of the area, and operational targets must all be examined. He stated that UNESCO and ICOMOS damage assessments are factual findings requiring consideration, but determining legal responsibility and intent requires proper legal processes and evidence. Thailand reaffirmed that world heritage must be protected and not used for military purposes, but that if weapons, troops, and attacks on Thai personnel originate from such a site, Thailand has the right to self-defence under international law.
