The non-disclosure of information about the capture of Cambodian soldiers prioritised their safety, according to the government. The lives of the armed forces, as well as Cambodian citizens living in conflict zones, are the top priority of the Royal Government, explained Prime Minister Hun Manet.
The prime minister was responding to questions about why Cambodia has not released information related to the capture of its soldiers by Thai forces.
“The Royal Government is making every effort to achieve a permanent ceasefire as soon as possible,” he said, in a July 31 social media post.
“In this context, managing information about our troops on the battlefield is crucial for protecting their lives and ensuring our forces’ strategic advantage,” he added.
Regarding the captured soldiers, whose return the government is still awaiting, he noted that protecting their lives has been of the utmost priority since the moment of their capture.
“In the initial stage, when their fate was still unclear, managing information was critical. Disclosing certain details could endanger their lives or complicate negotiations for their release,” he said.
He explained that between publicising information to inform the public and withholding it to ensure the soldiers’ safety during an uncertain early phase, the government had no choice but to carefully manage information and pursue negotiations for their swift return.
He clarified that contrary to some accusations, the government is not hiding information to keep the public in the dark or disregarding the lives of its forces. Military leaders have been in contact with their Thai counterparts to request the immediate release of Cambodian forces since the incident occurred.
The Minister of National Defence and the Commander of Cambodia’s 4th Military Region have been in regular communication with their Thai counterparts to request the prompt release of the soldiers.
The prime minister added that the Commander-in-Chief of the Cambodian Armed Forces also requested the Commander-in-Chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces, in his role as a ceasefire facilitator and monitor, to urge the Thai military leadership to expedite the soldiers’ release.
“I hope that the Thai military will return all of our soldiers currently under their control to Cambodia as soon as possible,” he said.
According to Maly Socheata, defence ministry spokesperson, Thai forces captured 21 Cambodian soldiers on the morning of July 29, after the current ceasefire took effect.
So far, the body of one of the men has been returned to Cambodia, while the remaining 20 are still in Thai custody. She urged Thailand to release them promptly.
