UPDATES:
16:00: As of 4 p.m. Saturday, Thai side had yet to hand over 18 Cambodian soldiers back Cambodia, Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said.
12:25: Thailand’s Acting Minister of National Defense has accepted Cambodia’s proposal to allow representatives from Malaysia, the United States, and China to attend the Extraordinary meeting of the General Border Committee (GBC) as observers.”
11:10: National Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said the government has decided on Friday to establish a working group with an observer group led by Malaysia to monitor the ceasefire, which reflects the government’s will to carry out the work.
The Cambodian working group comprises Tea Seiha, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense, as the chairman, Kung Phoak, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry, and Rath Dararath, Secretary of State for National Defense Ministry, as the vice-chairman, and other senior leaders as members.
The working group will coordinate and facilitate the work of the observer group which will monitor the ceasefire and ensure its implementation, Socheata said.
7:15: Cambodian still appeal to Thai side return the remaining 18 Cambodian militaries back Cambodia, while Thai side has returned only two militaries to Cambodia on yesterday, Cambodia’s defense ministry spokesperson confirmed.
Thailand has returned two Cambodian soldiers across the Oddar Meancheay border who are a part of the larger group captured and detained after a clash near the Preah Vihear border on Tuesday, Cambodia’s defense ministry spokesperson confirmed.
Cambodia said that 20 soldiers were captured in the clash, which both sides accused each other of violating a fragile ceasefire. Thailand has only confirmed holding 18 troops.
Photos of the handover from local Cambodian media appear to show one soldier being pushed in a wheelchair. CamboJA News was unable to independently verify if or when the soldier was injured and was declined comment by the Defense Ministry when seeking clarification on the differing troop counts.
Local Thai media reported the two soldiers were released due to physical injury and a psychiatric disorder.
11:18. a.m: As of 11 a.m. Friday, Thailand had yet to hand over 20 Cambodian soldiers in its custody, Cambodian Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said.
The troops were captured following a skirmish near the Preah Vihear border on Tuesday, after which both sides accused each other of violating a fragile ceasefire.
Thailand’s military and Defense Ministry had not issued an official statement on the soldiers’ return as of Friday morning, but previously said the troops were being treated in accordance with international law and would be released once legal procedures were complete.
Cambodia’s Defense Ministry has agreed to move a planned high-level military meeting with Thailand to neutral ground in Malaysia, shifting both the date and venue at Thailand’s request.
The General Border Committee (GBC) talks – part of a ceasefire deal reached July 28 in Malaysia after five days of border clashes between Cambodia and Thailand – will now take place August 4-7. Originally set for Phnom Penh on August 4 under a rotating host system, the meeting was moved after renewed friction, with both sides trading blame for fresh violations of the truce as recently as two days ago.
Cambodia has also proposed inviting Malaysia, the U.S. and China to attend next week’s GBC meeting as observers, citing their role in brokering the July 28 ceasefire, Defense Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata told a press conference on Friday.
“We are very confident that this meeting will produce constructive and fruitful outcomes,” she said.
In a statement dated July 31, Thailand’s acting Defense Minister Nattaphon Narkphanit said the meeting should be held in Malaysia due to the “sensitive nature” of the situation. While acknowledging that Cambodia was next in line to host under a rotating system, he described the upcoming session as “extraordinary” and said Malaysia had agreed to provide a venue.
Nattaphon also called for extending the meeting beyond a single day, saying the number and seriousness of issues at stake required more time for discussion.
The GBC serves as the main platform for military-to-military talks between Cambodia and Thailand, focusing on border security, troop coordination and de-escalation during flare-ups.
The urgency surrounding next week’s session has only grown following the detention of Cambodian troops inside Thailand.
Socheata said the Thai army had confirmed that 20 Cambodian soldiers held in Thai custody were “safe and unharmed.” The troops were detained following a skirmish near the Preah Vihear border on Tuesday, after which both sides accused each other of violating a fragile ceasefire.
On Thursday, a Thai army spokesperson said the commander of Thailand’s Second Army Region had assured that 18 Cambodian soldiers – a figure that differs from Cambodia’s count – would be treated in line with international legal standards.
“The soldiers would be swiftly returned once the legal procedures are completed,” the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Thai newspaper The Nation.
Socheata said Cambodia was continuing negotiations to secure the group’s release and had requested Malaysia mediate the handover. One soldier’s body was returned on Thursday, and Cambodia has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the remaining detainees under international humanitarian law.
