Thailand issued a clarification following concerns raised by India over damage to a Lord Vishnu idol near the Thailand–Cambodia border, saying that the action was driven by security considerations and not
religious intent.
Unverified videos circulating online showed a idol of Lord Vishnu being damaged during an operation involving a backhoe loader by Thai military personnel in a disputed border area.
Responding to the criticism, the Thai-Cambodian border press centre said the damage to the idol was “not intended to involve religion or beliefs” and occurred during area management and security operations after Thai forces regained control of the territory, The Week reported.
Thai authorities said the structure was not a registered or officially recognised religious site and was a later installation. They added that its removal from the area was aimed at preventing the presence of symbols that could escalate tensions along the sensitive and long-disputed frontier.
According to the Thai side, the idol stood in the Chong An Ma area and was viewed by Thailand as a marker erected by Cambodian soldiers to assert sovereignty over land claimed by Thailand, raising security concerns in the contested zone.
India’s Reaction
India’s Ministry of External Affairs responded by expressing concern over the damage to the idol, stating that such acts hurt the sentiments of believers worldwide. New Delhi urged both Thailand and Cambodia to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy.
Cambodia’s Position
Cambodia, however, accused Thailand of causing damage to the Vishnu idol inside Cambodian territory. A provincial government spokesperson said the structure was located in the An Ses area of Preah Vihear province, according to an AFP report. Cambodian officials claimed the incident took place roughly 100 metres from the border, while mapping data suggested the statue may have been located a few hundred metres from the boundary line.
The incident comes amid renewed clashes between Thai and Cambodian forces over their disputed border, a conflict that has reportedly killed dozens and displaced nearly one million people.
