THAILAND, December 25, 2025 (theweek.in): A day after India expressed concern over the demolition of a Lord Vishnu statue by the Thai Military on the Thailand-Cambodia border, the Thai authorities have issued a clarification on the act, stating the demolished structure was not a “registered religious site”.
The Thai-Cambodian border press centre issued a statement on Thursday to alleviate India’s wrath, stating that the statue was installed recently. “The actions were not intended to involve religion, beliefs, or disrespect any sacred entities, but were solely for the purpose of area management and security, following the Thai side’s regaining control of areas under Thailand’s sovereignty,” it said.
The center said that the statue was a later addition and not an officially registered religious site. “The action was therefore taken to confirm control of the area, minimize the risk of misunderstandings, and prevent the use of symbols that could lead to further tension,” it clarified.
The statement added that the statue was built on the disputed Thai-Cambodian border area at Chong An Ma. It claimed the symbols were erected by Cambodian soldiers to illegally claim sovereignty over Thai territory. “Following the operation on December 22, 2025, the Thai army successfully recaptured the Chong An Ma area. Subsequently, army engineers dismantled the Hindu deity statues near an abandoned casino, which the Thai side viewed as symbols erected by Cambodian soldiers to illegally claim sovereignty over Thai territory,” he said.
They added that Thailand respected all religions and beliefs equally, including Hinduism, which has long historical and cultural ties with countries in the region.