Cambodia is actively exploring means to bring the 18 soldiers detained by Thailand home. The government is currently pursuing both bilateral negotiations with Thai authorities and international mechanisms to ensure their swift and safe return.
As of now, it has been a week since 21 Cambodian soldiers were captured by Thai forces on Cambodian sovereign territory, in violation of the July 28 ceasefire agreement. One body has been returned, along with two injured soldiers.
On August 4, Prime Minister Hun Manet explained that the Cambodian government is continuing to monitor the safety of the detained soldiers closely and is taking all necessary measures through various mechanisms to secure their prompt and safe release.
He noted that the Ministry of National Defence, the General Command and Cambodian Military Region Commanders are working continuously with their Thai counterparts and have requested Malaysia, as ASEAN chair, to engage with Thai authorities on this matter.
“The government has also tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, through Cambodia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations and international organisations in Geneva, to work with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to push for their release as soon as possible,” Manet said.
Additionally, he instructed the Cambodian Human Rights Committee to collaborate with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) and the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand to further advocate for the release and repatriation of the soldiers as quickly as possible.
Beyond the prime minister, Senate president Hun Sen has also taken a keen concern in the issue. He urged the prime minister to request that the International Committee of the Red Cross fulfil its role regarding the soldiers, who were detained by Thai forces who entered a Cambodian military base after the ceasefire.
Hun Sen noted that Thailand’s actions took place just eight hours after a ceasefire agreement supported by US President Donald Trump, which prohibited firing, troop movements and the deployment of additional forces.
“What reason does Thailand have for refusing to return the 18 Cambodian soldiers to Cambodia?” he questioned.
