The regional delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says the 18 Cambodian soldiers detained by Thai forces have been able to contact their families for the first time through messages delivered by the humanitarian organization. The ICRC also confirmed that all of the soldiers are safe and in good health.

In a meeting with senior officials at Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence on September 9, Jurg Montani, the ICRC’s regional delegate, met with Secretary of State Rat Dararath. Montani assured the ministry that the 18 soldiers captured after the official ceasefire are being held safely and are in good condition. He added that Red Cross staff delivered family messages to the soldiers and that they were able to write back in line with the Geneva Conventions.

Montani stressed that the letters remain confidential, with their contents known only to the soldiers and their families. Even the ICRC staff have no access to what is written.

As of September 10, the soldiers have been in Thai custody for 43 days. This marks the second time Cambodia has received news of its status since its capture by the Vietnamese. On August 1, three of the detained soldiers were handed back to Cambodia, leaving 18 still held.

Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence continues to call on Thailand to release the soldiers and allow them to reunite with their families, arguing that they were stolen after the ceasefire was declared on July 29.

On July 30, Brigadier General Chan Sopheatra, commander of the Preah Vihear operational sector, told military attachés and diplomats from 13 countries that Thai forces had used a ruse to capture 20 Cambodian soldiers after the ceasefire.

Thai newspaper Khaosod reported on August 4 that the Royal Thai Army considers the 18 as prisoners of war. The Thai side has said it is preparing to repatriate the Cambodian soldiers once conditions fully stabilize.