Thailand Releases Cambodian Soldiers Amid Renewed Ceasefire

On Wednesday, Thailand freed 18 Cambodian soldiers following a renewed ceasefire agreement made over the weekend, which has helped to decrease tensions that had escalated due to weeks of violent clashes along their border, officials from both countries reported.

The two Southeast Asian nations announced a ceasefire effective at noon on Saturday (5 p.m. Japan time), halting nearly 20 days of fighting that resulted in at least 101 fatalities on both sides and left more than half a million civilians displaced.

The conflict involved fighter jets, rocket strikes, and artillery bombardments.

According to Cambodian Defense Ministry spokeswoman Marie Socheata, the soldiers were handed over at a border crossing at 10 a.m. (3 p.m. Japan time) after being detained in Thailand for 155 days. Sok Lew, the governor of Cambodia’s Battambang province, referred to the returning soldiers as “heroic soldiers.”

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the prisoners were treated “in accordance with international humanitarian law and principles” while in custody.

Border skirmishes reignited this month after a previous ceasefire, negotiated by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, broke down.

As part of the ceasefire agreement initiated on Saturday, Thailand had committed to releasing the 18 detained soldiers provided that the ceasefire endured for 72 hours. However, the release was postponed by a day after Thailand alleged that Cambodia had violated the ceasefire, a claim that Cambodia disputed.

Mirjana Sporjaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which facilitated the handover, remarked, “Today’s release and repatriation of prisoners of war allows families to be reunited and is an important step in acting on the commitments outlined in the joint statement.”