Thailand has issued an explanation following the demolition of a statue of the Hindu deity Vishnu during ongoing hostilities with Cambodia, stating that the structure was not a religious site and that the action was taken purely for security reasons.
Cambodia had earlier accused Thailand of destroying a Hindu statue in a disputed border area, prompting a reaction from India, which described the act as hurtful to Hindu sentiments and urged both countries to protect heritage sites.
On Wednesday, Cambodia alleged that Thai forces had destroyed the statue in a contested border zone. The incident drew international attention after a video purportedly showing the demolition went viral on social media.
Viral Video and Official Clarification
According to reports, the statue was located in the An Ses area, within Cambodia’s territorial limits. The viral footage appears to show a Vishnu statue, constructed in 2014, being demolished using a bulldozer. However, the authenticity of the video could not be independently verified by Live Hindustan #Thailand brought down Lord Vishnu statue, I want to start the “Boycott Thailand” and “Boycott Pattaya” campaigns
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Hope my Hindu brethren support this cause by canceling bookings and ensuring that country is brought to its knees and forced to beg before India
Challenge accepted? pic.twitter.com/uLClYbblun
Responding to India’s reaction, the Thai–Cambodian Border Press Centre said the action was unrelated to religion or belief systems and was carried out solely for area management and security purposes. Thai authorities stated that the site had never been officially designated as a religious place and that the removal was intended to prevent symbols that could escalate tensions in a sensitive border region.
Thailand also reiterated that it respects all religions equally, including Hinduism.
India Expresses Strong Disapproval
It is noteworthy that Thailand and Cambodia have been engaged in armed conflict for several weeks. Since fighting erupted on December 8, approximately 40 people have been killed, and more than 800,000 people displaced, according to reports.
Following the circulation of the demolition video, India expressed strong displeasure. Responding to media queries on Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said such acts were deeply offensive to Hindu devotees worldwide and should not occur.
“We have seen reports regarding the destruction of a statue of a Hindu deity that was recently constructed in an area affected by the Thailand–Cambodia border dispute,” Jaiswal said. “As part of our shared civilisational heritage, people across the region deeply respect and worship Hindu and Buddhist deities. Regardless of competing territorial claims, such actions hurt the sentiments of devotees around the world and must not take place.”
Call for Dialogue and Protection of Heritage
India urged both Thailand and Cambodia to avoid further damage to heritage sites and to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy.
“We once again call upon both sides to return to dialogue, pursue diplomatic solutions, restore peace, and prevent further loss of life, property, and cultural heritage,” the spokesperson said.
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