The Ministry of Cult and Religion has issued a strong protest against the presence of Thai authorities and citizens conducting religious activities at Ta Krabey Temple, which Cambodia states is located within its sovereign territory.
In a statement released on Wednesday, the ministry said Thai authorities and individuals have continued to organise public gatherings, religious ceremonies, visits, and other related activities at the temple and surrounding areas despite repeated formal protests from the government.
According to the statement, these activities represent a serious violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The ministry also objected to the presence of senior Thai officials and infrastructure construction linked to the religious ceremonies in the area.
The ministry stressed that such actions violate several legal and diplomatic frameworks, including the Franco-Siamese Treaty of 1907, the boundary delimitation and demarcation instruments, the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) 2000, the Terms of Reference (TOR) 2003, and the principles of international law, including the United Nations Charter. It also noted that these actions undermine the authority of the Joint Boundary Commission (JBC) mechanism between the two countries.
The ministry further protested the presence of senior Thai officials and nationals who reportedly conducted religious worship at Ta Krabey Temple on Wednesday, stating that such actions reinforce unlawful activities and risk undermining efforts to resolve the issue peacefully through negotiations.
Cambodia called on the Thai government to immediately cease all prayer activities and religious ceremonies at the temple and other areas within Cambodian territory.
The statement reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to resolving the matter peacefully through existing bilateral mechanisms, particularly through the Joint Boundary Commission between the two countries.
