Thailand Builds Buddha Statue On Disputed Border, Cambodia Raises Objections

Last Updated:January 24, 2026, 21:25 IST

Tensions around religious symbols in the region have grown since December, when a ceasefire brought an end to three weeks of deadly fighting along the border.

The Thai army said on Saturday that the statue was placed in the area as part of a religious gesture (Credits: X)

Thailand has installed a Buddha statue in a disputed border area with Cambodia, just weeks after Thai forces removed a statue of a Hindu deity from the same site.

The Thai army said on Saturday that the statue was placed in the area as part of a religious gesture and to boost morale among local residents. The location, known as An Ma in Thailand and An Ses in Cambodia, has long been at the centre of a territorial dispute between the two neighbouring countries.

Tensions around religious symbols in the region have grown since December, when a ceasefire brought an end to three weeks of deadly fighting along the border. The clashes had claimed dozens of lives on both sides.

Last month, Thai troops demolished and removed a statue of the Hindu god Vishnu from the contested area. Cambodia strongly criticised the action, while Thailand maintained that the move was meant to assert control over the territory and was not intended to offend religious beliefs.

Earlier this week, Cambodian officials accused Thailand of raising tensions again by installing the Buddha statue, saying the move went against the spirit of de-escalation agreed under the ceasefire.

In response, the Thai army accused Cambodia of spreading “distortions". In a statement, it said the statue “was not intended to insult or undermine the beliefs of any party".

“This was carried out within the framework of religious freedom and belief, as well as to boost morale among Thai citizens in the area," the army said.

Both Thailand and Cambodia are predominantly Buddhist countries, but religious symbols have become highly sensitive in the disputed zone.

The long-running conflict between the two neighbours stems from disagreements over the demarcation of their 800-kilometre border, much of which is based on colonial-era maps.

Since the ceasefire, Cambodia has accused Thailand of taking control of several areas in border provinces and has called for the withdrawal of Thai troops from territories claimed by both sides.

(With inputs from AFP)

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