(Koh Kong): Cambodian Defence Minister Tea Seiha said that during the 1st Special General Border Committee (GBC) Meeting, Cambodia and Thailand agreed that captured soldiers will be returned as soon as possible at an appropriate time.

The minister spoke on Wednesday (Sep. 10) during a press conference on the outcomes of the special meeting of the Cambodia-Thailand General Border Committee (GBC) in Koh Kong Province on Wednesday (Sep. 10).

“As a gesture of friendship, mutual trust and confidence, and a commitment to restoring relations and returning to normalcy, it was also agreed that captured soldiers will be returned as soon as possible at an appropriate time, on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with Article 118 of the Third Geneva Convention of 1949 and Rule 128 (A) of Customary International Humanitarian Law,” the minister underscored.

At the same time, the meeting emphasised on the needs of the return to normalcy, in this regard, with the request from Japan which proposed both countries to consider on the feasibility on reopening border checkpoints for the necessary goods transportation for the maintenance of critical regional supply chains.

Please be informed that the ceasefire between the Cambodian and Thai governments officially took effect at 12:00 midnight on 28 July 2025. After the ceasefire had come into force, Thai soldiers arrested 20 Cambodian soldiers. Of those, only 2 have been returned, one who was seriously injured and another suffering from mental health issues, while the remaining 18 Cambodian soldiers have not yet been released by Thailand as of 10 September 2025.
=FRESH NEWS