Cambodia’s suspicious high-level plan involved ordering soldiers to quickly remove weapons from the Preah Vihear archaeological site before allowing a group dressed like VIP tourists to go up and take photos and videos. This is suspected to be part of an international image-cleansing strategy.
After the latest ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, Cambodia was still found to be reinforcing and building bases at several points, especially around the Preah Vihear temple, an important archaeological site opposite Sisaket Province. Throughout the clashes, Cambodia used this area to gather personnel and weapons and installed a large crane there. It was later discovered that the crane’s top held a signal-jamming device threatening to the Thai military, prompting Thai forces to attack the crane.
Recently, a confidential source reported unusual activity at Preah Vihear this week, noting that Cambodian soldiers hurriedly removed personal weapons and other items from the site, disguising them by placing many in sacks loaded into the backs of pickup trucks.
Shortly afterward, a group of tourists dressed in matching-tone clothing, including both men and women, ascended to the top of Preah Vihear in a manner resembling VIP tourists and possibly linked to the local forces.
After this group, appearing as tourists, took photos and videos at Preah Vihear, they rode in the backs of pickup trucks down to a point where luxury vans awaited to lead the convoy.
It is suspected that Cambodia is using influencers or interested parties to film clips for posting online and citing in international forums. Since Preah Vihear is an archaeological site of global concern for potential damage from conflict, Cambodia’s continued use of the site as a military base and arms storage remains highly contentious.