Phnom Penh: Mr. Khuong Sreng, the Governor of Phnom Penh, has requested that the UNESCO representative in Cambodia report to UNESCO on the severe damage to the Preah Vihear temple by shelling by the Thai army that invaded Cambodia in July 2025, in order to protect the temple and to let the world see the invasion of the Thai army on Cambodian territory.
The above proposal by Mr. Khuong Sreng was made during a courtesy meeting with Mr. Flavio Bonetti, UNESCO Representative in Cambodia, on the afternoon of August 4, 2026, at the Phnom Penh Municipal Hall.
During the meeting, Mr. Khuong Sreng said that when the Thai war of aggression took place, the Thai army dropped bombs and destroyed temples along the border, such as Takrabei Temple and Preah Vihear Temple, and the most damaged was Preah Vihear Temple, a world heritage site.
At the same time, Mr. Khuong Sreng emphasized that the Preah Vihear Temple is not only a heritage asset for Cambodia but also a world heritage asset. Therefore, the Phnom Penh administration has requested that the UNESCO representative in Cambodia report to UNESCO on the destruction of the Preah Vihear Temple by shelling by the Thai army invading Cambodian territory.
In response, Mr. Flavio Bonetti stated that in March, he and his team went to the Preah Vihear Temple, where they had the team inspect and assess the impact on the temple and study the restoration project for the Preah Vihear Temple in order to mobilize support for the restoration. He said that not only the maintenance and restoration of the temple is considered, but another important thing is to ensure that the displaced people are healthy, live a decent life, and especially return to their homes as soon as possible.
Mr. Flavio Bonetti said UNESCO is fulfilling its mission within the framework of international law and will continue to work actively to support Cambodia in preserving its heritage, as Phnom Penh, as well as the Kingdom of Cambodia, has rich heritage assets, according to its plans and available budget.
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