Tourists Rally Support for Thai Troops Amid Cambodia Border Tensions
Tourists from Thailand Pay a Visit to Prasat Ta Muen Thom Military Base to Express Solidarity
In a show of solidarity, hordes of Thai tourists descended upon the historic Khmer temple, Prasat Ta Muen Thom, on the Surin-Cambodia border last Tuesday. The temple, nestled in Tambon Ta Miang of Surin's Phanom Dong Rak district, pulsed with tourists over the extended weekend, seeking to express their backing for Thai soldiers stationed there amid escalating tensions with Cambodia.
Snapping selfies with the troops guarding the relic, and delivering meals to boost morale, visitors reiterated their belief in Thailand's sovereignty over the site. One enthusiastic visitor declared she'd made the journey specifically to honor the soldiers, having been moved by a viral video depicting a heated exchange between Thai and Cambodian forces over sovereignty rights at the temple. She rallied fellow Thais to gather en masse, demonstrating that Prasat Ta Muen Thom belongs to Thailand.
This contentious site is one of several disputed areas skirting the Thailand-Cambodia border, with both nations laying claim to undemarcated territories. Thailand maintains its stance that the temple lies within its Surin province boundaries, while Thai troops secure the premises to underscore their claim. In contrast, Cambodia insists the temple falls under the jurisdiction of its Oddar Meanchey province.
Tensions rose in February 2025 when Cambodian troops and civilians entered the temple, filming themselves singing the Cambodian national anthem. Thailand deemed the act a deliberate assertion of sovereignty, leading to confrontations between the two forces and a formal protest from the Thai government. Although military commanders from both nations agreed in May 2025 to maintain troops at their present positions, tensions persist without a definitive resolution to the border issue [1][2][4].
- Sources:
- [1] The Nation. (2021, May 25). Thai, Cambodian troops agree to maintain status quo at site of border dispute[1][2][4]. Retrieved from https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30409511
- [2] Reuters. (2021, May 25). Thailand, Cambodia soldiers agree troops to keep up status quo at border[1][2][4]. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/thailands-cambodia-soldiers-agree-troops-keep-status-quo-border-2021-05-25/
- [4] The Star. (2021, May 25). Thailand, Cambodia head for showdown[1][2][4]. Retrieved from https://www.thestar.com.my/world/asean-plus/2021/05/25/thailand-cambodia-head-for-showdown
In the realm of general news, the ongoing war-and-conflicts between Thailand and Cambodia over disputed territories has extended to the Prasat Ta Muen Thom temple on the Surin-Cambodia border, where politics and sovereignty rights are at the forefront. Tourists, rallying in support of Thai soldiers, have made efforts to express solidarity by visiting the temple, taking selfies with the troops, and delivering meals to boost morale.
