Thailand on Wednesday released 18 Cambodian soldiers who had been detained during recent border clashes, in a move described as part of the second phase of a ceasefire agreement between the two countries. The soldiers had been held since July, and officials from both sides confirmed their release.
Cambodia’s Information Minister Neth Pheaktra said the detained soldiers had safely returned home.
“I can confirm that the detained soldiers have been released and have entered Cambodia,” he said.
In a statement, Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the soldiers were repatriated as a “gesture of goodwill and trust,” reflecting both countries’ commitment to easing tensions following the ceasefire.
Renewed fighting along the border earlier this month left at least a dozen people dead and forced hundreds of thousands of civilians to flee their homes. However, conditions have begun to improve since Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire last Saturday.
The two Southeast Asian neighbors have long been embroiled in a dispute over the demarcation of their 800-kilometer shared border, a disagreement rooted in colonial-era boundary arrangements. Both countries claim ownership of contested areas that include the ruins of ancient temples, making the issue highly sensitive and periodically volatile.
Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, BBC.