Phnom penh: Cambodian Minister of Tourism H.E. Huot Hak has taken a firm stance against what he describes as Thai military aggression, reaching out to H.E. Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UN Tourism. In a letter, he urged condemnation of Thailand's actions, which have allegedly turned the Preah Vihear Temple, a cultural tourism site, into a war zone.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the letter outlined the damage inflicted on the Preah Vihear Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The letter, dated July 25, detailed the use of heavy artillery and bombing by F-16 fighter jets, which have reportedly caused significant structural harm to the temple. Essential parts of the temple, including Gopuras I, II, III, and V, have sustained visible damage, as well as the core architectural structures.
The letter emphasized the temple's protection under international conventions, notably the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict. Minister Hak highlighted the temple's symbolic significance as a testament to Southeast Asia's ancient civilization and architectural prowess and lamented the impact on its status as a protected heritage monument.
The Ministry of Tourism expressed concern over the incident's implications for cultural tourism and regional harmony, noting the threat to tourist safety. The temple has long been a popular destination for both domestic and international visitors, and this aggression undermines efforts to promote peaceful cross-border tourism and shared cultural preservation, he stated.
In closing, H.E. Huot Hak appealed to UN Tourism to show solidarity with Cambodia by condemning the violence against this world cultural heritage site by Thailand.