On April 22, 2026, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts issued a statement, summarized as follows:
In accordance with official letters dated January 30, 2026, April 13, 2026, and April 22, 2026, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts continues to strongly protest the presence and continued illegal activities of Thai authorities at Ta Krabey Temple and its surrounding areas, which are located within the sovereign territory of Cambodia.
Despite repeated protests from the Royal Government of Cambodia, Thai authorities have continued to organize public gatherings, facilitate tours, and carry out various activities in the area. These actions constitute a serious violation of Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and are considered illegal.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts absolutely opposes recent activities, including infrastructure construction and the presence of Thai authorities, all of which are attempts to create a fait accompli (a situation already brought about) on the ground. These actions seriously violate the 1907 Franco-Siamese Treaty, relevant implementation documents regarding border demarcation, the 1:200,000 scale map, and the minutes of the Commission for the Delimitation of the Boundary between Indochina and Siam. Furthermore, they violate the 2000 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the 2003 Technical Terms of Reference and Master Plan, the UN Charter, and fundamental principles of international law. These acts also infringe upon the jurisdiction of the Joint Border Commission (JBC) of both parties.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts emphatically protests the presence of high-ranking Thai officials, including the Minister of Culture and the Minister of Defense of Thailand, at Ta Krabey Temple, as well as the organization of activities at this site on April 22, 2026. The presence of these high-ranking officials demonstrates an intent to reinforce illegal activities and undermines efforts to resolve the issue peacefully through negotiations.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts calls upon the Royal Government of Thailand to immediately cease all activities at Ta Krabey Temple, withdraw all authorities from the site, and stop all ongoing actions. Cambodia reaffirms its firm commitment to resolving the issue peacefully through existing bilateral mechanisms, particularly the JBC.
