(Phnom Penh): Lieutenant General Maly Socheata, Spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defence, announced that on the morning of August 20, 2025, the Ministry facilitated the mission of the Interim Observation Team (IOT), consisting of representatives from five countries. The delegation, led by Colonel Nazlee Bin Abdul Rahim, Malaysia’s Defence Attaché to Cambodia, departed from the Ministry of National Defence for Preah Vihear province to observe, verify, and report on the situation following the formal enforcement of the ceasefire.

Maly Socheata spoke on Wednesday (Aug. 20) at a press conference on the implementation of the Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire.

It is worth noting that this mission stemmed from the outcomes of the Special Meeting held on 28 July 2025, in Putrajaya, Malaysia, and the Extraordinary Meeting of the Cambodia–Thailand General Border Committee (Extraordinary GBC Meeting) was concluded on 7 August 2025, which reaffirmed the importance of the IOT deployment.

“This morning, the Ministry of National Defence of the Kingdom of Cambodia facilitated the Interim Observation Team (IOT), comprising of representatives from five countries, led by Colonel Nazlee Bin Abdul Rahim, Malaysia’s Defence Attaché to Cambodia. They departed Phnom Penh for Preah Vihear province to observe, verify, and report on the updates after the ceasefire agreement took effect.”

The spokesperson also reiterated Cambodia’s continued demand that Thailand honour the agreement by returning 18 Cambodian soldiers unlawfully detained after the ceasefire, who have now been held for 21 days. She stressed that the Ministry of National Defence, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces, and the international community will keep pressing until Thailand complies with international law and returns the soldiers to Cambodia.

She added that the Royal Government, the armed forces, and the Cambodian people stand united in defending the nation’s territory, dignity, and sovereignty. Full implementation of the ceasefire by both sides will create a favourable atmosphere for restoring peace, stability, and normalcy to the relationship between our two countries.

The spokesperson stressed that Cambodia will continue to work constructively with Thailand, Malaysia, ASEAN members, and relevant partners to fully implement the ceasefire and resolve disputes peacefully under international law, the UN Charter, and the ASEAN Charter.

Since the ceasefire officially took effect at midnight on July 28, 2025, it has been observed that there has been positive development through bilateral discussions between the two countries. Such notable developments include the extraordinary GBC meeting on 7 August 2025 in Malaysia and the extraordinary RBC meeting on 16 August 2025, the spokesperson underscored.

She added that it is essential for both parties to continue fostering these positive developments in order to promote peace and stability, especially to restore normalcy in both countries and relationship across all sectors, for the benefit of both nations’ peoples.
=FRESH NEWS