Thailand and Cambodia agreed a second ceasefire at the end of December,
ending about 20 days of clashes that killed at least 101 people and displaced more than half a million civilians on both sides. The clash led to the worst fighting in years between the Southeast Asian neighbours.
On December 31, Thailand released 18 Cambodian soldiers under a renewed ceasefire agreed by the two countries at the weekend, authorities from both countries said.Cambodian Defence Ministry spokesperson Maly Socheata said the soldiers were transferred at a border checkpoint after 155 days in Thai custody. The governor of Cambodia’s Battambang province, Sok Lou, described the returnees as “heroic soldiers”.
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Thailand’s Foreign Ministry said the detainees had been treated “in accordance with international humanitarian law and principles” during their detention.
The border clashes flared up again December after a previous ceasefire deal brokered by US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim collapsed.
As part of December’s deal to halt the fighting, Thailand agreed to release the 18 soldiers in its custody if the ceasefire held for 72 hours.
However, the handover was delayed by one day after Thailand made allegations of ceasefire violations by Cambodia, which Cambodia denied.
The United States welcomed the December 27 ceasefire agreement and said Thailand’s release of the soldiers was “a positive step towards rebuilding neighborly relations and trust,” according to a State Department statement.
