War over worship? Why Hindu temples are at the heart of Thailand-Cambodia conflict

(FILES) A Thai soldier stands guard as Cambodian people visit the disputed ancient Khmer temple Prasat Ta Muen Thom, or Prasat Ta Moan Thom in Khmer, on the Cambodian-Thai border in Oddar Meanchey province on March 26, 2025.

Centuries-old Hindu temples dot the mountainous border between Thailand and Cambodia -- majestic relics of a shared Khmer past. But today, these temples are not just historical monuments. They are flashpoints for military conflict and nationalist sentiment, as seen in the latest violent escalation near the Ta Muen Thom temple.

At least 12 people have been killed in clashes along the border, with both countries accusing each other of provoking the violence. Fighter jets, drones, artillery fire and evacuations have turned a long-standing territorial dispute into a military confrontation, placing sacred sites at the heart of a dangerous standoff.

Temple become battlefield again

The latest skirmish erupted Thursday (July 24) near Ta Muen Thom, a 12th-century Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, when Thai and Cambodian troops exchanged fire in the Surin Province border region. According to Thai reports, the situation escalated after a Cambodian drone crossed into Thai airspace, prompting Thai forces to open fire following failed attempts at verbal de-escalation.

Thailand said Cambodian troops armed with RPGs had gathered near the border, and the standoff soon led to the use of BM-21 rocket launchers, airstrikes by F-16 jets, and cross-border artillery shelling. Residential areas and a hospital on the Thai side were hit, forcing the evacuation of around 40,000 civilians from 86 villages.

Cambodia, however, denied instigating the conflict. “In response, the Cambodian armed forces exercised their legitimate right to self-defence, in full accordance with international law, to repel the Thai incursion and protect Cambodia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” said Cambodia’s defence ministry spokeswoman Maly Socheata.

Ta Muen Thom: A temple claimed by both

At the centre of this flare-up is the Ta Muen Thom Temple, located in the Dangrek Mountains along the poorly demarcated border. Built by Khmer King Udayadityavarman II, the temple is a sacred structure made of laterite stone and unusual in its south-facing orientation. It houses a natural Shivling in its sanctum and is an important religious and cultural site for both sides.

While the temple was historically part of the Khmer Empire -- the predecessor to modern Cambodia -- it now sits in a contested area that both countries claim as their own. Despite the lack of clarity on the official border, troops from both nations maintain a constant presence, often leading to tense face-offs.

A February incident saw Cambodian troops sing their national anthem at the site, triggering a verbal confrontation with Thai soldiers. The exchange, captured on video, hinted at the deep nationalistic symbolism these ancient temples carry.

Temples as symbols of sovereignty

Ta Muen Thom is not the only temple caught in this geopolitical struggle. Others, like Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom, have also been sites of conflict. Preah Vihear, in particular, has been the subject of both bloodshed and legal disputes for decades.

The International Court of Justice in 1962 awarded Preah Vihear to Cambodia -- a ruling reaffirmed in 2013 -- but Thailand has refused to accept the court’s jurisdiction. As with Ta Muen Thom, the issue traces back to a 1907 French colonial-era map, which Cambodia uses to assert its claims, while Thailand argues the map is flawed.

Preah Vihear, perched dramatically on a clifftop, was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2008. But the designation only fueled nationalist fervor and military buildup on both sides, turning what should be cultural heritage into a cause for conflict.

Why the past still burns in the present

At its heart, the Thailand-Cambodia border dispute is about more than territory. It is about national identity, historical narratives, and political legitimacy. The temples -- all constructed during the Khmer Empire when borders didn’t exist as they do today -- now find themselves caught between modern national boundaries and ancient cultural claims.

The fact that sacred Hindu temples, meant for peace and spiritual reflection, are now battlegrounds reflects how history is being reinterpreted for present-day politics. With thousands of troops deployed, fighter jets in the air, and ancient stones standing in the line of fire, it’s a stark reminder of how unresolved history can explode into violence.