AKP Preah Vihear, August 01, 2025 --

Military attachés from embassies in Phnom Penh visited the Cambodia-Thai border this week to observe the situation 36 hours after a ceasefire went into effect at midnight on Monday.

Countries represented on the border visit included Australia, China, France, Indonesia, Japan, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Vietnam and the United States.

The visit on Wednesday was coordinated by Lieutenant-General Rath Dararath, Secretary of State at the Ministry of National Defence. 

He briefed the military attaches at the border village of An Seh — which had been subjected to intense shelling by Thai forces — along with H.E. Suos Yara, Chairman of the National Assembly Commission on Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Media.

The main briefing was by Major-General Chan Sopheaktra, the local military commander in An Seh where Thai forces destroyed a Cambodian shrine on Monday.

Built more than 15 years ago, the modern-day Lok Ta Om shrine — located well inside Cambodian territory next to the Thai border — is dedicated to the spirit of a Cambodian general from ancient times. The general is considered the guardian of the locality. 

Also destroyed ahead of Monday’s midnight deadline for the ceasefire was a market for the village of about 280 households who have been evacuated, Cambodian soldiers said.

After the midnight ceasefire took effect, they said, Thai soldiers crossed the border into the village to assert their presence before returning to Thailand on Tuesday evening.

‘Show of friendship’

Despite the destroyed shrine and market, border patrol officers and soldiers from Thailand put on a show of friendship with their Cambodian counterparts before dozens of assembled journalists ahead of the visit by military attaches.

Among reporters and photographers to visit the destroyed shrine and market on Wednesday were representatives of Chinese, French, Japanese and Singapore media.

Dr. Helen Jarvis, a Cambodian heritage specialist, decried the destruction of such a popular cultural site  — in addition to World Heritage and other sites damaged during five days of intense fighting before the ceasefire.

“It’s tragic to see the destruction of this vernacular shrine,” said Dr. Jarvis, who also visited the border village on Wednesday.

She said such structures have “deep meaning for local people who regularly make offerings and preserve the shrines.”

Malaysia’s Prime Minister brokered the ceasefire agreement between Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet and acting Thai Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai in Kuala Lumpur on Monday.

The United States co-sponsored the meeting while China was observer.

H.E. Suos Yara addressing military attaches on Cambodian-Thai border (Photo: National Assembly)

Lok Ta Om shrine destroyed by Thai forces (Photo: National Assembly)

By Sao Da