Thailand has released 18 Cambodian soldiers after 155 days in captivity, marking a pivotal step towards peace as a renewed ceasefire takes effect between the two nations. The soldiers were returned to Cambodia on Wednesday morning, three days following the truce agreement designed to halt weeks of violent border clashes, according to Cambodia’s Ministry of National Defence.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand confirmed the repatriation, describing it as an act of goodwill and confidence-building. The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) coordinated the handover and commended both countries for their cooperation in achieving the truce. ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric expressed that the release not only reunites families but also moves the commitments mentioned in the Joint Statement closer to reality. She highlighted the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law, particularly during the repatriation of prisoners at the conclusion of conflicts, as crucial for fostering trust and facilitating a path toward lasting peace.
The ICRC also monitored the conditions of the prisoners during their detention, visiting them four times to ensure adherence to international standards. The renewed border clashes, which reignited this month, followed a breakdown of a prior ceasefire mediated in July by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. During the latest violence, which lasted 20 days and led to over 100 fatalities and the displacement of more than half a million individuals, both sides engaged in intense military operations, including air strikes and artillery exchanges.
Following the ceasefire agreement reached over the weekend, effective Saturday noon, both Thailand and Cambodia have pledged to freeze troop movements and collaborate on demining the disputed 800-kilometer border shared between them. However, the scheduled return of the soldiers was initially postponed due to allegations of ceasefire violations by Thailand, claims which Cambodia has denied.
In the long-term, resolving the historical dispute over this section of the border, which dates back to the early 1900s during the French occupation of Cambodia, will be essential. Tensions had previously heightened between the two nations from 2008 to 2011 over the same border issues. The contested area is significant as it houses three ancient temples from the Khmer Empire, including the renowned Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has been the subject of rulings by the International Court of Justice in favor of Cambodia in both 1962 and 2013.
Original Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/31/thailand-releases-18-cambodian-soldiers-as-ceasefire-holds
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Publish Date: 2025-12-31 11:07:00
