Cambodia urges Thailand to unconditionally release 18 detained soldiers

Cambodia urges Thailand to unconditionally release 18 detained soldiersCambodia is calling on Thailand to immediately and unconditionally release 18 Cambodian soldiers who have been held for the past two weeks, urging respect for the 13-point agreement reached between the two sides.Speaking at a press conference on August 12, Ministry of National Defence spokesperson Maly Socheata said Cambodia continues to press Thailand to honour the agreement and return the soldiers so they can reunite with families who are waiting for them.She said the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and the international community will continue to demand that Thailand meet its obligations under international humanitarian law. She stressed that the Cambodian government will never abandon any family member or leave them isolated.Maly Socheata reaffirmed Cambodia’s commitment to working constructively, sincerely and in close cooperation with Thailand, Malaysia, other ASEAN members and all relevant partners to ensure a full and effective ceasefire and to resolve disputes peacefully in line with international law, the United Nations Charter and the ASEAN Charter.According to the Ministry of National Defence, Lloyd Gillett, a regional military delegate of the International Committee of the Red Cross who met the 18 Cambodian soldiers in Thai custody, confirmed they are all currently safe and in good health.However, Thai Army spokesperson Winthai Suvaree stated that Thailand will not release the soldiers unless Cambodia stops laying mines.On August 12, Transparency International Cambodia and several civil society organisations voiced concern over the situation of the detained soldiers, particularly following the release of two others earlier. They called on Thailand to release the 18 immediately and without conditions, citing worries about their physical and mental well-being.The arrests took place on the morning of July 29, after the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire came into effect. Major General Chan Sopheaktra, commander of the Preah Vihear battlefront operational area, said Thai troops had invited the Cambodian soldiers to take souvenir photographs together at Chhong Tae border post. He claimed that immediately afterwards, Thai forces hidden in the forest emerged with weapons drawn and detained the Cambodian soldiers.