The War of the Temples: Thailand and Cambodia’s Sudden Clash
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| Prasat Ta Muen Thom Temple – disputed site under Thai control amid the Thailand-Cambodia war. |
More than a thousand years ago, two ancient
temples were built on the sacred hills that now stand between Thailand and
Cambodia. These were not ordinary monuments; they were Sanatan temples of Lord
Shiva, carrying centuries of faith and history.
For decades, the two nations argued over their
ownership.
- Preah Vihear Temple:
Standing high on a promontory, officially recognized as Cambodian
territory.
- Prasat Ta Muen Thom Temple:
Located on the border, controlled by Thailand, but still claimed by
Cambodia.
Despite the arguments, the dispute had been
like a sleeping volcano—quiet but alive under the surface. Then, suddenly in
2025, it erupted into a full-scale war that has already taken the lives of soldiers
and innocent civilians on both sides.
The Hidden Spark Before the War
Surprisingly, the war’s first sacrifice was
not a soldier but a leader: Thailand’s young, dynamic Prime Minister, PaetongtarnShinawatra. In August 2024, almost a year before the war began, she was not
removed from her post but suspended. The acting Prime Minister became Phumtham
Wechayachai, the Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister.
What forced such a dramatic move?
The answer lies in a single phone call.
A secret phone call recording leaked to
the public. It spread across Thailand like wildfire. In that private
conversation, PM Shinawatra was heard speaking to a senior Cambodian
politician—someone very close to her family. Shockingly, she addressed him as “Uncle.”
That alone might have been harmless. But in
the same call, she was heard criticizing some Thai army officers, accusing them
of escalating border tensions.
***
Snippet 1: The Phone Call That Shook a Nation
“A simple phone call became the spark in a pile of hay.
PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra’s private conversation with a Cambodian politician went public.She called him ‘Uncle.’ She criticized her own army. That was enough to turn the Thai streets into a storm.”
***
For the Thai public, this was betrayal. “How could our Prime Minister call a Cambodian politician Uncle when they are our rivals? How could she speak against our own army?” the people asked.
Protests exploded overnight. Streets filled
with angry voices. The King, as the constitutional head, stepped in. He did not
remove her completely but suspended her and ordered a legal review in the
constitutional court.
From that moment, the sleeping volcano began
to rumble.
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| Preah Vihear Temple on the Thailand-Cambodia border – center of the 2025 temple dispute. |
Tensions Rise
Throughout late 2024, the border became a line
of fire. Thai and Cambodian armies exchanged shots. A few Thai civilians were
killed in cross-border incidents. Still, it was a controlled tension, a
dangerous game but not yet a war.
The world believed it would calm down with
time. But the real eruption was still ahead.
Why Did War Break Out Now?
The answer came during the sacred month of Sawan,
according to the Sanatan Panchang. Devotees of Lord Shiva were making
pilgrimages and performing rituals with great energy.
***
Snippet 2: The Sacred Month of Sawan
“In the month of Sawan, when Lord Shiva’s devotees across Thailand and Cambodia raised their prayers, the border dispute was no longer just politics.
It became a wound on faith, an echo of ancient heritage.
And in that sacred season, the sleeping volcano finally erupted into war.”
***
Although Thailand and Cambodia are now largely Buddhist, the old Sanatan roots still live in their hearts. The people of Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia—all of Southeast Asia—still carry traces of that ancient heritage. In this spiritual season, emotions and faith run deep.
Border incidents during this holy time were
seen not just as politics, but as an insult to something divine. The tension,
already burning from the “phone call scandal,” finally burst into war. The two
ancient temples, silent witnesses of centuries, became the center of blood and
fire once more.
Focus :
Thailand Cambodia war, Preah Vihear Temple
dispute, Prasat Ta Muen Thom, Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, Sawan month,
Sanatan temples, border conflict, real reason for Thailand Cambodia war.
END
F&Q 1: Why did the war between Thailand and Cambodia start in 2025?
A: The war erupted due to a combination of long-standing disputes over the
1,000-year-old Preah Vihear and Prasat Ta Muen Thom temples, a leaked phone
call scandal involving Thai PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra, and rising religious
sentiments during the holy month of Sawan.
F&Q 2: What are the temples at the center of the Thailand-Cambodia dispute?
A: The two temples are:- Preah Vihear Temple (Cambodia)
- Prasat Ta Muen Thom Temple (Thailand)
F&Q 3: What was in the leaked phone call of PM Paetongtarn Shinawatra?
A: In the leaked call, she was heard calling a senior Cambodian politician “Uncle” and criticizing Thai army officers for escalating border tensions. This triggered massive protests.F&Q 4: How did the Sawan month play a role in the war?
A: The Sawan month is sacred to Lord Shiva devotees across Southeast Asia. Incidents during this time were seen as spiritual insults, turning the border dispute into a full war.F&Q 5: Was the Thai PM removed because of the scandal?
A: She was not removed but suspended in August 2024. Acting PM duties were given to Phumtham Wechayachai while a legal review began.
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