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 call on Mr. Flavio Bonetti, UNESCO Representative to 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 invasion war broke out, the Thai army dropped bombs and destroyed temples along the border, such as the Takrabei Temple and the Preah Vihear Temple, and the most damaged was the Preah Vihear Temple, a world heritage site.
At the same time, Mr. Khuong Sreng He emphasized that Preah Vihear Temple is not only a heritage asset for Cambodia, but also a human heritage asset for the world. Therefore, the Phnom Penh administration requests 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 confirmed that in March he and his team went to the Preah Vihear Temple. Having assigned a team to examine and assess the impact of the temple and study the restoration project of 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 that 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 budget.
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