The Royal Embassy and consulate of Cambodia in Thailand in cooperation with the Thai side has been conducting an investigation into the construction of a temple in Buriram province of Thailand claimed by many as a replica of the renowned Angkor Wat Temple of Cambodia.
“For this case, we need to conduct detail investigation because some temples in Thailand have similar style to Angkor Wat, such as Phanom Rung Temple in Buriram province. Therefore, the Embassy and consulate of Cambodia in Thailand must study the case, we cannot react immediately because we have not known yet whether or not the construction copies the architectural style of our Angkor Wat Temple,” H.E. Koy Kuong, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation told AKP this morning.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia will follow closely this cases, he underlined.
For his part, H.E. Long Ponnasirivath, Secretary of State and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, said the ministry, especially the APSARA National Authority, is following and studying the case focusing on the style and layout of the under construction temple.
“We need to gather detailed information first. As I know, our consul in Thailand will arrive the construction site this afternoon. We are waiting for information from him […],” he said.
In case that temple copies the Angkor Wat’s architectural style, he stressed, Cambodia will use the diplomatic mean by sending a letter to the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as the country has done in the previous cases.
Yesterday, pictures of the Angkor Wat-like temple being built in Buriram province bordering the Cambodian province of Oddar Meanchey has been shared widely on social media and attracted attention of many Internet users who demanded actions from concerned authorities.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press