THAILAND REPATRIATES 18 CAMBODIAN SOLDIERS - THAI FOREIGN MINISTRY

By Kenny Teng

BANGKOK, Dec 31 (Bernama) -- Thailand has repatriated the 18 detained Cambodian soldiers to their home country at 10 am (local time) on Wednesday in accordance with a Joint Statement signed by the two countries on Dec 27 during the 3rd Special General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting.

The Thai Foreign Ministry (MFA) said the Joint Statement stipulates that the soldiers would be returned after the ceasefire had been fully observed for 72 hours.

“The release is also in the spirit of the Joint Declaration between Thailand and Cambodia signed on Oct 26, 2025, in Kuala Lumpur,” the MFA said in a statement on Wednesday.

According to the MFA, Thai authorities have treated the 18 Cambodian soldiers in line with international humanitarian law, including the 1949 Geneva Conventions, as well as the rules and established humanitarian practices of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).

The ministry said the ICRC was permitted to visit the detainees regularly and facilitated communication between the soldiers and their families.

“The repatriation was carried out in accordance with the Third Geneva Convention relating to the Treatment of Prisoners of War,” it said.

Before their return, the MFA said the soldiers underwent medical examinations and were duly informed of their rights to ensure a voluntary, safe and dignified repatriation.

It added that the ICRC had informed the families of the soldiers of their return, while representatives from the ICRC and the ASEAN Observer Team (AOT) were present to observe the repatriation process.

“The repatriation of the 18 Cambodian soldiers reflects goodwill and confidence-building, as well as adherence to international humanitarian principles,” the MFA said.

Thailand also expressed hope that Cambodia would reciprocate this goodwill through concrete actions to promote sustained peace between the two countries.

On Saturday, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to an immediate ceasefire, effective from noon local time, to end all border hostilities, bringing a halt to the conflict that reignited on Dec 7.

The Joint Statement was signed by Thai Defence Minister Gen (Rtd) Nattaphon Narkphanit, who is also Thailand’s GBC co-chairman, and Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence General Tea Seiha, the Cambodian GBC co-chairman.

The 3rd Special GBC Meeting was held simultaneously at Prum in Pailin Province, Cambodia, and Ban Pak Kard in Chanthaburi Province, Thailand.

Under the Joint Statement, and in the spirit of the Kuala Lumpur Joint Declaration signed on October 26, both sides also agreed on several key measures, including ensuring the safety of joint survey teams on the ground, particularly in areas affected by landmines.

To ensure effective implementation, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to utilise their respective Border Coordination Units to help sustain the ceasefire, manage the situation on the ground, address incidents on time and prevent miscalculation, under the observation and verification of the ASEAN Observer Team.

Both countries will maintain regular and direct communication between their defence ministers and chiefs of defence forces to enable prompt responses to urgent situations that cannot be resolved at the local level.

If necessary, high-level representatives from both sides will meet to address issues on the ground.

-- BERNAMA