Thai Military Justifies Treatment of Cambodian Detainees
In a recent development, the Royal Thai Army is holding 18 Cambodian soldiers who surrendered following a clash in the Sam Tae area of Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket province. The incident occurred on July 29.
The clash began when Cambodian forces fired heavy weapons and mortars into Thai territory. In response, the Thai military deployed special cavalry units to counter-attack and clear Cambodian positions. The Thai unit disarmed and detained the surrendered Cambodian soldiers, following proper procedures in accordance with international humanitarian principles.
20 Cambodian soldiers surrendered during the operation, showing no threatening behavior towards Thai forces. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives seized during the operation have been handed over to ordnance officers for inspection and documentation. The explosives will be destroyed, while the remaining items will be retained as evidence for legal proceedings.
The Royal Thai Army is treating all detained Cambodian soldiers in accordance with international legal standards. Two of the detained soldiers who were injured during the clash have been transferred to Fort Weerawatyothin Hospital in Surin province for medical treatment. Two other soldiers—a wounded one and another with a psychiatric condition—were repatriated to Cambodia on August 1, following medical treatment and in accordance with international humanitarian standards.
The Thai Second Army Area confirmed that a new date will be arranged to hand over the remaining 18 soldiers once the investigation and questioning are finalized. However, the Royal Thai Army has rejected Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet's call to immediately repatriate all detained Cambodian soldiers.
Cambodia has urged Thailand to promptly repatriate the remaining soldiers in compliance with international humanitarian law. In response, Thailand has begun returning the injured personnel but has delayed the full repatriation until the investigations are complete. Hun Manet, Cambodian Prime Minister, has expressed concern over the delay in releasing information regarding detained Cambodian soldiers.
Mental health specialists have been called in to assess the psychological condition of the detained Cambodian soldiers, believed to have been affected by prolonged combat exposure. Hun Manet prioritizes the care of Cambodian forces and civilians living in the conflict zones.
This situation follows a territorial clash between Thai and Cambodian forces, and although a ceasefire is in place, the two countries have differing accounts of the incident leading to the capture. The Royal Thai Army maintains it is following due legal procedures pending investigations into the soldiers' actions. Hun Manet has asked the Thai army to send all detained Cambodian soldiers back to Cambodia as soon as possible.
- This war-and-conflicts incident, involving the clash between Thai and Cambodian forces in Kantharalak district, Si Sa Ket province, has sparked ongoing politics and general news discussions, with Cambodia urging Thailand to promptly repatriate the detained soldiers in compliance with international humanitarian law.
- The crime-and-justice aspects of this situation extend beyond the battlefield, as mental health specialists are assessing the psychological condition of the detained Cambodian soldiers, emphasizing the importance of their care, a concern shared by Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet.
