Cambodia urges Thailand to release 18 detained sol | RSS.com
Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence has renewed its call for Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been held for 41 days, saying they should be allowed to return home and reunite with their families.
In a statement issued today, the ministry said the soldiers were captured unlawfully by Thai troops on July 29, shortly after a ceasefire agreement came into effect. Despite repeated appeals, they remain in detention as of September 8.
The Foreign Ministry said Prime Minister Hun Manet has made the soldiers’ release and repatriation a top priority. Cambodia’s diplomatic mission at the United Nations is also lobbying international organisations, including the International Committee of the Red Cross and the UN human rights office, to monitor their detention conditions and ensure compliance with the Geneva Conventions.
Officials emphasised that prisoners of war must be granted the right to visits, monitoring, and eventual repatriation.
Thai newspaper Khaosod reported on August 4 that the Royal Thai Army considers the 18 Cambodian prisoners of war. The army said it plans to return them once the situation eases, but has not given a timeline.
Cambodian military officials have accused Thailand of tricking and detaining 20 soldiers immediately after the ceasefire was declared. Three were later released, while on July 31, Thailand returned the body of one soldier. On August 1, two others were sent back, one with serious injuries and another reportedly in poor mental health.
The call for release comes as Cambodia’s defence ministry is recruiting new volunteers for the Royal Cambodian Army. A directive signed on August 28 by General Huot Chheang invited young Cambodians aged 18 to 25 with at least a primary education to apply at regional military command centres.
The fate of the 18 soldiers has become a test of the fragile ceasefire between Cambodia and Thailand, with Phnom Penh pushing for international oversight to prevent further escalation.
