Bangkok Post - Heritage sites 'are off limits'. The Thai army is warning Cambodia against using cultural heritage sites as bases for military operations, as such actions constitute a violation of the Hague Convention, according to Royal Thai Army spokesman, Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, on Thursday.

Heritage sites 'are off limits'

The Thai army is warning Cambodia against using cultural heritage sites as bases for military operations, as such actions constitute a violation of the Hague Convention, according to Royal Thai Army spokesman, Maj Gen Winthai Suvaree, on Thursday.

The warning came as Cambodia's Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts issued several statements accusing Thailand of carrying out operations which resulted in damage to Ta Khwai and Preah Vihear temples along the border.

Maj Gen Winthai said that Thailand remains committed to the 1954 Hague Convention, which mandates the protection of cultural heritage sites and prohibits attacks or actions that could cause damage to such sites.

"In this instance, Cambodia deliberately used these heritage sites as military bases, establishing surveillance and strategic positions to target Thai forces," he said.

"Therefore, it is Cambodia, not Thailand, that is violating humanitarian and international conventions, as well as showing disregard for cultural heritage," he said.

He added that Thailand has the right to neutralise such threats in a proportionate and necessary manner, in line with international law, because Cambodia itself forced the situation.

Unesco has also voiced its concern over the renewed fighting between Cambodia and Thailand, warning that the escalating border conflict is putting cultural heritage sites in the area at risk, especially the Preah Vihear temple, which is inscribed on the World Heritage List.

Thai F-16 fighter jets carry out airstrikes on a casino target in Chup Koki, Oddar Meanchey, Cambodia, on Wednesday.  (Photo courtesy of Army Military Force Facebook Page)

The United Nations' cultural agency stressed that it is ready to provide technical support and emergency measures to protect cultural property "as soon as conditions allow".

Separately, Culture Minister Sabeeda Thaised said on Thursday that while ancient monuments must be protected, national sovereignty should come first.

She said that the permanent secretary of the Culture Ministry and the Fine Arts Department director-general had already discussed the matter.

Armed clashes along the Thai-Cambodian border continued into a fifth day on Thursday. According to the latest figures released by the Thai armed forces, three civilians and nine soldiers have been killed since the most recent clashes broke out. Approximately 200,000 residents have been evacuated from high-risk areas as the fighting continued.

The Second Army Region released a summary of operations along the Thai-Cambodian border from Dec 7 to Dec 11.

According to the report, 102 Cambodian soldiers were estimated killed, six T-55 tanks destroyed in Phanom Prasittho, one BM-21 multiple rocket launcher destroyed, 64 drones neutralised and one anti-drone system destroyed.

Lt Col Thitiphong Fuangchan, assistant spokesman for the Operations Centre of the Second Army Region, summarised key developments as of 9am yesterday.

At 10.42pm on Wednesday, a firefight broke out when Cambodian forces fired on Thai positions using artillery and mortars. They also deployed unmanned aerial vehicles to conduct surveillance over several critical areas, including Chong Bok, Chong Sa-ngam, Chong An Ma, Prasat Khna, Prasat Ta Khwai, and Preah Vihear temples.

The army responded in kind by employing artillery and mortars to destroy high-value military targets belonging to the opposing forces.

Thai forces also took control of the Chong Rayi-Plot Tang area in Surin's Kap Choeng district to prevent a counterattack.