The row over the recent shelling near Preah Vihear is still dragging on, with Thailand insisting Cambodia was using the ancient ruins as a military base.
Neap Dara, head of the Ministry of Information’s press department, lashed out online, calling out videos circulated by the Thai side that lacked clear timestamps and locations as entirely fabricated. He dismissed them as a cheap excuse to cover up Thai damage to a World Heritage site, saying Phnom Penh isn't buying it.
Turning the tables, Neap Dara pointed to Thai military activity at Ta Moan Thom Temple. He asked how Bangkok could point fingers based on blurry photos while turning a blind eye to its own troops. Photos clearly show Thai soldiers armed with rifles, stacking tires for defense, and even parking military vehicles at the site. Heritage protection laws shouldn't have a double standard—one rule for others, and another for themselves, he noted.
On the streets, people are following the drama closely. Ordinary folks just want to get on with their daily lives in peace and dread any flare-ups along the border; nobody has time for bureaucratic double-talk. Local media report that Cambodia is now demanding hard proof from the Thai side to clearly explain whether the area hit was actually a military target, instead of just running their mouths.
