(Phnom Penh): Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet has formally requested the commander-in-chief of the Malaysian Armed Forces, in his role as ceasefire coordinator and monitor, to intervene and urge the Thai military to swiftly release Cambodian soldiers currently in their custody.

Samdech Thipadei wrote on his social media on Thursday (Jul. 31) as follows:

“There have been questions raised about why the Royal Government of Cambodia did not immediately release information concerning the capture of Cambodian troops by the Thai military after the ceasefire. Did the government not care about the lives of our soldiers?

I would like to clarify that since clashes erupted on 24 July 2025, the wellbeing of our armed forces, as well as the Cambodian civilians living in the affected areas, has been the highest priority of the Royal Government.

That is why the government has worked tirelessly to achieve a ceasefire as quickly as possible.

In this context, managing information from the battlefield is extremely important in protecting the lives and safety of our forces and ensuring a strategic advantage.

Regarding the capture of our troops, as we await their return from the Thai side their lives have been our utmost priority from the moment they were detained.

At the initial stage, when there was no clear information about their condition, managing sensitive information was crucial. Premature disclosures could have put their lives at risk or further complicated negotiations for their release.

Therefore, between the choice of making public announcements and that of safeguarding the soldiers’ lives during this uncertain period, the Royal Government had no option but to prioritize discreet information management and push for their immediate release through diplomatic channels.

This is not because the Royal Government was hiding information or unconcerned, as some sources have alleged. I affirm that our military leadership has been in contact with the Thai side from the outset, requesting the immediate release of our captured personnel.

The Minister of National Defence and the Commander of Cambodia’s Military Region 4 have been in constant contact with their Thai counterparts to seek the swift return of our troops. Additionally, the commander-in-chief of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces has requested the Malaysian military, in its capacity as the ceasefire coordinator and monitor to urge the Thai commander-in-chief to facilitate their release.

I hope the Thai military will return all of our soldiers currently under their control as quickly as possible.”
=FRESH NEWS