On the 31st, the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement indicating that Thailand has repatriated 18 detained Cambodian soldiers.
The statement said that at 10 a.m. on the 31st, Thailand had repatriated the 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been detained. This action was carried out in accordance with paragraph 11 of the joint Thai-Cambodian statement signed at the third meeting of the Thailand-Cambodia General Border Committee on the 27th of this month. The paragraph clearly stipulates that after 72 consecutive hours of ceasefire, the aforementioned 18 Cambodian soldiers shall be repatriated to their country. This repatriation also complies with the spirit of the Thailand-Cambodia peace declaration signed on October 26th in Kuala Lumpur.
The statement pointed out that since their detention, Thailand has always treated the 18 Cambodian soldiers in accordance with relevant international laws and humanitarian principles. Before repatriation, these 18 soldiers underwent medical examinations and were fully informed of their rights to ensure their voluntary, safe, and dignified return. The International Committee of the Red Cross has notified the families of the soldiers about the repatriation and, together with the ASEAN observer team, witnessed the repatriation process.
The Thai side expressed hope that Cambodia can reciprocate this goodwill with concrete actions and jointly promote lasting peace between the two countries.
Cambodia Confirms Thailand Releases 18 Captured Soldiers
Cambodian Ministry of National Defense spokesperson Mali Souchheata stated on the 31st that Thailand has released the 18 Cambodian soldiers it captured since the end of July.
In a press release, she noted that the 18 Cambodian soldiers detained by the Thai side were released at 10 a.m. that day at the border checkpoint in Banteay Meanchey province and returned safely to Cambodia.
The return of the 18 soldiers was under the supervision of the ASEAN observer group and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Cambodia hopes that this release will greatly promote mutual trust, creating an environment conducive to peace, stability, and comprehensive normalization of relations, benefitting both countries and their peoples.
The return of the 18 soldiers was under the supervision of the ASEAN observer group and the International Committee of the Red Cross. Cambodia hopes that this release will greatly promote mutual trust, creating an environment conducive to peace, stability, and comprehensive normalization of relations, benefitting both countries and their peoples.