An international team of observers today began its first mission to Cambodian border areas affected by recent clashes with Thailand, as Phnom Penh renewed calls for the release of 18 soldiers it says were illegally seized by Thai forces.
Led by Malaysian defence attaché Colonel Nazlee Abdul Rahim, the Interim Observer Team (IOT) is visiting sites in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces to assess compliance with the truce reached on July 28 in Putrajaya, Malaysia.
The seven-member mission from Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam, formed under an Asean-led process and backed by the United States and China, is the first independent inspection since the ceasefire halted months of sporadic fighting.
“Cambodia reaffirmed its commitment to fully respect and strictly implement the ceasefire,” said Cambodia Defence Ministry spokesman Lt Gen Maly Socheata.
For Cambodia, the visit is not just about verifying calm on the ground but also about increasing diplomatic pressure on Thailand to free its captured personnel – an issue Phnom Penh says will be the true test of Bangkok’s commitment to peace.
The ceasefire is widely seen as a fragile but significant diplomatic achievement in a dispute that has periodically erupted into deadly confrontations over the past decade. Much of the friction has centred on overlapping claims near the Unesco-listed Preah Vihear temple.
In a further briefing from Phnom Penh, Socheata said the overnight situation in the contested zones had remained calm and steady, with Cambodian troops in frontline regions maintaining full vigilance in upholding the agreement.
She said the observer deployment was a direct outcome of the Aug 7 talks in Kuala Lumpur and reflected Asean’s shared commitment to transparency and conflict prevention.
The fate of the detained soldiers continues to hang over the truce. Cambodia says 18 of its personnel were taken into custody by Thai forces on the morning of July 29 – less than 12 hours after the ceasefire took effect.
“We urge the Thai side to fully implement the agreement and to return our personnel so they may reunite with their families, who have been waiting day and night,” said Socheata, calling the arrests illegal and contrary to the spirit of the truce.
She added that as of Aug 14, the soldiers had been held for 15 days.
Thailand has yet to publicly respond to the latest appeal. Thai officials have previously emphasised the importance of adhering to agreed border demarcation procedures and preventing any troop movements that could reignite tensions.
The latest standoff comes against the backdrop of a long-running sovereignty dispute dating back to colonial-era maps. Clashes have flared sporadically since the late 2000s, disrupting trade, displacing communities and straining broader diplomatic relations.
Analysts have noted that the truce remains fragile – hinging on the commitment, discipline and trust of ground commanders on both sides.
Socheata concluded that Cambodia remained committed to working constructively, sincerely and in close cooperation with Thailand, Asean partners and outside stakeholders to ensure the ceasefire’s effective implementation.
“Full implementation of the ceasefire by both sides will create a favourable atmosphere for restoring peace, stability and normalcy,” she said. “This is something not only our two peoples desire, but the whole world wishes to see.”
And for now, the guns remain silent.
Image: Ministry of Information, Cambodia.
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