Cambodia has requested that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) urge Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers as well as continue monitoring their well-being. The men have now been detained by Thai forces for 126 days.
The request was made by Senior Minister Ly Thuch, first vice-president of The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA), during a meeting with Gilles Carbonnier, ICRC vice-president, in Geneva, Switzerland where Thuch was attending the 22nd Meeting of the States Parties to the Ottawa Convention on December 1.
The ICRC in Thailand has met with the 18 Cambodian soldiers on several occasions, facilitating the exchange of letters between them and their families.
Thuch expressed his gratitude to the ICRC for its cooperation and support in Cambodia’s efforts to secure the release of the soldiers, who were unlawfully detained by the Thai military the day after the July 28 ceasefire came into effect.
According to CMAA, Carbonnier stated that the ICRC would continue to monitor the well-being of the Cambodian soldiers and promised to continue working on this issue with all relevant parties.
As of December 2nd, it has been 126 days since the 18 soldiers were detained by Thailand’s Second Army Region. Cambodia considers their arrest, made within Cambodian territory after a ceasefire came into effect, as an act of hostage-taking, exceeding the status of prisoners of war.
During the October 26 signing of the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord, US President Donald Trump stated that Thailand would release them through the agreement. However, more than a month later, there is still no sign of their release, although they appear to have been used as bargaining chips.
Cambodia urges Thailand to respect this agreement, especially paragraph 5, which states that “the Thai side shall immediately and without delay release the 18 Cambodian military personnel”.
Cambodia has consistently raised this case at various international forums, urging the 18 men’s safe release as soon as possible.
