Thailand clarifies demolition of Lord Vishnu statue after India raises concern

Bangkok: Thailand has issued a clarification a day after India expressed concern over the demolition of a Lord Vishnu statue on the Cambodian border. The approximately 9-meter-tall statue, built in 2014, was demolished by the Thai army using a bulldozer. A video of the demolition went viral on social media, leading to widespread criticism of Thailand. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs also issued a statement expressing concern over the incident. Now, Thai authorities have clarified that the demolished Lord Vishnu statue was not a "registered religious site."

What Thailand said

The Thai-Cambodia Border Press Center issued a statement on Thursday to appease India's anger, claiming that the statue was erected later. It said, "This action was not intended to insult religion, beliefs, or anything sacred, but was purely for the purpose of managing and securing the area after the Thai side regained control of the territory under Thailand's sovereignty."

Thailand calls it an 'unregistered' temple

The center further stated that the statue was erected later and was not an officially registered religious site. It clarified, "Therefore, this action was taken to reaffirm control over the area, reduce the risk of misunderstanding, and prevent the use of such symbols that could further escalate tensions." The statement said that the statue was erected in the disputed Thai-Cambodia border area of ​​Chong An Ma. It claimed that these symbols were placed by Cambodian soldiers to illegally claim sovereignty over Thai territory. Thailand's Statement Regarding Hinduism

They said, "Following the operation on December 22, 2025, the Thai army successfully recaptured the Chong An Ma area. Subsequently, army engineers removed statues of Hindu deities near the casino, which the Thai side viewed as symbols erected by Cambodian soldiers to illegally claim sovereignty over Thai territory." They further stated that Thailand respects all religions and beliefs equally, including Hinduism, which has long historical and cultural ties with the countries in the region.

Thailand-Cambodia Border Talks Continue for Second Day

Military talks between Thailand and Cambodia on the border dispute continued for a second day on Thursday. The Thai army announced that the intensity of clashes along the border had generally decreased, although sporadic gunfire continued in some localized areas. According to Thai media reports, the talks were held at a border checkpoint in Thailand's Chanthaburi province. Here, defense delegations from both countries convened a meeting at 9:00 AM under the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC). The talks are expected to last four days, with an ASEAN observer team (from Malaysia) also present.

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The latest wave of conflict between Thailand and Cambodia has entered its third week. Along the more than 800-kilometer border, military clashes were occurring almost daily, creating a tense situation in several areas and affecting seven Thai border provinces. The lives of more than 800,000 residents have been disrupted, and dozens of soldiers and civilians have been killed. Currently, the conflict has moved beyond military action to a multifaceted rivalry involving information warfare and diplomatic maneuvering at the government level, and the ceasefire process is being hampered by various factors.