Phnom penh: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation issued a press release this evening outlining government efforts to secure the release and repatriation of 18 Cambodian soldiers detained by Thai forces since July 29, 2025.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the press release said Samdech Thipadei Prime Minister HUN Manet placed priority on securing the release and repatriation of the 18 soldiers detained by Thai forces following the July 28, 2025 ceasefire. The prime minister guided government institutions to pursue bilateral, regional, and international channels to secure the soldiers' return and framed their welfare as a matter of national dignity and humanitarian concern.
the release said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation H.E. PRAK Sokhonn led sustained diplomatic initiatives, raising the case with bilateral, regional, and international partners, with the Diplomatic Corps in Phnom Penh, and with visiting foreign dignitaries, including Japan's Special Envoy for Mekong Cooperation. Under his instructions, the ministry issued Note Verbales, organised diplomatic briefings engaging ASEAN mechanisms, and coordinated with friendly countries and international organisations.
the Ministry of National Defence coordinated with its Thai counterpart through existing bilateral military mechanisms to press for the soldiers' return while ensuring adherence to the ceasefire on Cambodia's side. The Cambodian Human Rights Committee engaged regional and international human rights bodies to highlight the humanitarian dimension of the case, emphasising the rights and dignity of the detained soldiers and calling for respect of international humanitarian and human rights law.
Cambodian Diplomatic Missions, including Permanent Missions to the United Nations in New York and Geneva, led international advocacy. In New York, the mission raised the issue before the United Nations and ASEAN partners and urged repatriation. In Geneva, the mission mobilised humanitarian and human rights institutions, including the ICRC and OHCHR, to monitor detention conditions and press for compliance with the Geneva Conventions.
the release said Cambodia approached the ICRC seeking humanitarian protection and not political confrontation. The government set urgent priorities: prisoners of war must be granted access, monitoring, and repatriation; civilians must be safeguarded from forced transfer, unlawful land seizures, and militarisation of their homes; and hostilities must be conducted in accordance with international law, including ending indiscriminate attacks, preserving cultural heritage, and prohibiting outlawed weapons.
the ICRC recognised the 18 detained soldiers as prisoners of war and confirmed follow-up visits would be conducted in early September to verify conditions and ensure family contact. The ICRC committed to work with Cambodian authorities to conduct field assessments, monitor humanitarian conditions, and address concerns related to displaced civilians and alleged use of prohibited weapons in line with its neutral mandate.