{"data":{"id":"fact_9tkdp87cxi","thread":{"slug":"thai-cambodia-cultural-identity","title":"Thailand–Cambodia Cultural Identity Conflict"},"occurredAt":"2023-12-06T12:00:00.000Z","recordedAt":"2026-09-03T19:24:59.482Z","title":"UNESCO Inscribes Songkran, Sparking Thai-Cambodian Disputes","body":"On 6 December 2023, UNESCO inscribed 'Songkran in Thailand' on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The decision led to renewed social media disputes between Thai and Cambodian users over the festival's origins, as similar water festivals are celebrated in Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. The inscription was widely reported by international media, including Reuters and Voice of America.","location":"Bangkok, Thailand","actors":["UNESCO","Thailand","Cambodia"],"verdict":"VERIFIED","verdictNote":"Multiple reputable sources confirm UNESCO inscribed Songkran in Thailand on the intangible cultural heritage list in December 2023, and subsequent reports note renewed Thai-Cambodian disputes over the festival's origins. The claim is consistent with these reports.","sources":[{"url":"https://www.yahoo.com/news/thailands-songkran-water-festival-kicks-155709497.html","title":"Thailand's Songkran water festival kicks off in Bangkok","publisher":"Yahoo","retrievedAt":"2026-09-03"},{"url":"https://www.voanews.com/a/thailand-s-extended-songkran-festival-sees-millions-celebrate/7569611.html","title":"Thailand’s extended Songkran festival sees millions celebrate","publisher":"Voice of America","retrievedAt":"2026-09-03"},{"url":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/songkran-new-year-water-fight","title":"What is Songkran? The cultural meaning behind Thailand’s famous water festival","publisher":"National Geographic","retrievedAt":"2026-09-03"}],"tags":["songkran","unesco","intangible-cultural-heritage","thailand","cambodia"],"views":7,"updatedAt":"2026-09-04T22:21:27.947Z","media":[],"relatedFactIds":[],"url":"/fact/fact_9tkdp87cxi"}}