Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet says his government is using all available national and international mechanisms to push for the immediate and safe release of 18 Cambodian soldiers currently detained by Thai authorities.
In a statement posted to his official Facebook page, Hun Manet said Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence, the Commander-in-Chief, and the regional military commander have been working continuously with their Thai counterparts. He added that Malaysia, in its capacity as the current ASEAN chair, has also been asked to engage with Thai authorities on the issue.
The Cambodian government has also tasked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through its Permanent Mission to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, with working directly with the International Committee of the Red Cross to seek a swift resolution.
Hun Manet said that Cambodia’s Human Rights Committee has been instructed to coordinate with the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights and Thailand’s National Human Rights Commission to further advocate for the release and repatriation of all 18 detained soldiers.
Initially, Thai authorities had agreed to return all 20 Cambodian soldiers to Cambodia on July 31. However, the plan was later postponed, citing incomplete procedural arrangements. On the evening of July 31, Thai military officials reversed the earlier decision, announcing that only two soldiers would be returned on the morning of August 1, with the remaining 18 to follow at an unspecified date.
According to Chan Sopheaktra, the operational commander in the Preah Vihear border region, the incident occurred after Thai soldiers invited the Cambodian troops to take commemorative photos together. He claimed that Thai soldiers, who had been hiding nearby in the forest, then emerged, pointed rifles at the Cambodian group and detained 20 soldiers. One managed to escape, and two others were reportedly shot and killed by Thai forces.
The Cambodian government has not yet confirmed the identities of the two deceased individuals, and Thai authorities have not released any official statement on the alleged use of force or the timeline for the remaining repatriations.
The situation remains tense along the border as diplomatic and military channels continue to seek a resolution.
