Post by : Saif Rahman

In a significant move towards peace, Thailand has released 18 Cambodian soldiers, as part of a newly established ceasefire agreement between the two nations, officials reported on Wednesday. This development aims to alleviate tensions following weeks of violent clashes along the border.

This renewed ceasefire, which came into effect over the weekend, put an end to hostilities at noon on Saturday (0500 GMT). The confrontations, which spanned approximately 20 days, resulted in the deaths of at least 101 individuals and displaced over half a million people. The conflict saw the use of fighter jets, rocket strikes, and artillery fire.

Maly Socheata, a spokesperson for the Cambodian Defence Ministry, confirmed that the soldiers were handed over at a border post at 10 a.m. (0300 GMT) on Wednesday, having been detained in Thailand for 155 days. Cambodia’s Battambang province governor, Sok Lou, praised the returning soldiers as “heroic.”

Thailand’s Foreign Ministry stated that the soldiers were held “in accordance with international humanitarian law and principles” throughout their detention.

The recent border conflict escalated following the collapse of a prior ceasefire that had been arranged by U.S. President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. Under the terms of the new ceasefire agreement, Thailand committed to releasing the soldiers if the ceasefire held for a duration of 72 hours. A one-day delay in the handover occurred amid Thailand’s accusations that Cambodia violated the ceasefire, a claim Cambodia refuted.

Mirjana Spoljaric, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), which facilitated the transfer, remarked, “Today's release and repatriation of prisoners of war allows families to be reunited and signifies a vital step in putting the commitments from the Joint Statement into practice.”

The soldiers' return signals a hopeful movement towards improving relations between Thailand and Cambodia. Both nations are optimistic that the ceasefire will endure, minimizing further casualties and civilian displacement.

Despite ongoing tensions, this development indicates that diplomatic initiatives, supported by international organizations like the ICRC, can contribute to reducing conflict and fostering a semblance of stability along this historically unstable border.

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