Cambodia Intensifies Appeals for Thailand to Release 18 Detained Soldiers as ICRC Keeps Monitoring

GENEVA (Dec. 2, 2025) — Cambodia renewed its call for Thailand to immediately release 18 Cambodian soldiers held in Thai military custody, urging Bangkok to honor commitments under the bilateral peace agreement and international humanitarian law.

Senior Minister Thuch delivered the appeal Monday in Geneva during a meeting with International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Vice President Gilles Carbonnier on the sidelines of the 22nd Meeting of States Parties to the Ottawa Convention.

Thuch asked the ICRC to continue monitoring the well-being of the detained soldiers and to encourage Thailand to release them without delay. He expressed appreciation for the ICRC’s cooperation and stressed that the soldiers were unlawfully detained by the Thai military.

Carbonnier reaffirmed that the ICRC will keep monitoring their conditions and continue engaging with all relevant parties.

As of Tuesday, the soldiers had been detained for 126 days. Cambodia reminded Thailand that Article 5 of the Joint Peace Agreement requires the soldiers to be released “immediately without delay.” The Royal Government said it is using all available mechanisms to secure their safe return, emphasizing that Cambodia “never abandons its soldiers under any circumstance.”