The proposed demolition of a statue of a Hindu deity in the Thai-Cambodian border has led to an uproar with the both India and Cambodia responding with great force. India also took the incident very seriously on Wednesday by terming it as an extremely disrespectful and hurtful event to the feelings of the worshippers across the world. The Cambodian officials have equally spoken out against the reported move, a move that has escalated the tension in the delicate border area.
The statue, which is thought to be a depiction of Lord Vishnu, was made in 2014, according to Cambodian officials and was found in the territory of Cambodia. One of the Cambodian government representatives in the border province of Preah Vihear, Kim Chanpanha, said the statue was located in the An Ses region, whose territory was obviously within Cambodia. He also observed that existing mapping information proves this assertion as it was reported that the location of the statue was around 400 metres along the identified boundary line.
As an indictment of the alleged act, Chanpanha declared that the demolition of old temples and religious statues worshiped by the Buddhists and Hindu was not acceptable. He emphasized that this practice is not only degrading to cultural heritage but also negatively affecting the religious feelings of millions of believers in the region affecting other parts of the world as well.
In response to the evolution, India called upon caution and demanded peaceful solution of the matter. New Delhi also added that any form of disrespecting religious symbols would hurt the common cultural values and would further divide the people. In the process of raising concern on the reported demolition, India also urged Thais and Cambodians to resolve their differences in the boundary matter, by engaging in positive negotiation and diplomatic relationships.
The incident occurs against the background of historic sensibilities between Thailand and Cambodia regarding their border with their territorial issues having caused tensions before. The recent controversy, according to the observers, highlights the importance of taking the cultural and religious heritage sites in conflict regions with care.
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