Hun Manet tells Cambodians to keep faith in govt amid POWs dispute

A delegation of ambassadors and UN and NGO representatives inspect the encroachment activities of Thailand, in Prey Chan village, Banteay Meanchey province, on August 22. AKP

Synopsis: Prime Minister responds to public concerns over Cambodia-Thailand border tensions, denying claims of government silence, troop withdrawal, and territorial concessions as Phnom Penh seeks the release of 18 soldiers detained by Thailand.

Prime Minister Hun Manet yesterday addressed the concerns of Cambodians, answering frequently asked questions about the simmering border tensions with Thailand and reassuring them of government actions for a peaceful resolution.

In a lengthy social media statement posted yesterday, Mr Hun Manet addressed what he described as “misunderstandings and political exploitation” surrounding Cambodia’s handling of the border clashes with Thailand and the ceasefire negotiations.

He acknowledged that questions and rumours had widely circulated online, including accusations that the government had remained silent on the row, ordered troop withdrawals, or made territorial concessions to achieve the ceasefire. He firmly rejected these claims.

Mr Hun Manet said the lack of recent statements from himself and key officials does not mean that the government has been idle.

“During times of rapid changes and uncertainty, ensuring the accuracy and stability of information is very important to avoid causing confusion among the public,” he said.

“To this end, the government has organised mechanisms and assigned responsibilities to spokespersons from the Royal Government, the Ministry of National Defence, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to regularly communicate and disseminate information.”

The Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Information as well as other government institutions have been providing regular updates on the border situation so that citizens remain informed, he added.

As for the positions of the Cambodian army in the disputed border area, Mr Hun Manet said the government has not once issued an order for their withdrawal.

“The government has not issued any orders for troops to withdraw after the ceasefire. Moreover, the ceasefire negotiations did not include any conditions requiring either party’s forces to pull back from their positions.

To the question of whether past negotiations had led to a land swap between the two countries, the Premier’s answer was an absolute “no”.

“The ceasefire negotiations on 28 July in Malaysia focused solely on stopping hostilities. Previous bilateral negotiations, including the Extraordinary GBC meeting between the Minister of National Defence and regional command meetings (RBC), also did not discuss border delineation,” Mr Hun Manet stated.

“All outcomes of these meetings—including the 28 July extraordinary meeting, GBC meetings, and RBC meetings—have been made public. Nothing was concealed, and no other secret negotiations took place.”

On border negotiations, he stressed, Cambodia continues to uphold the position of resolving border issues peacefully through existing mechanisms, namely the Cambodia-Thailand Joint Border Commission (JBC), based on existing agreements between the two countries, treaties, and international law.

Mr Hun Manet dismissed the claim that the government, specifically the Ministry of National Defence, has failed to support the frontline troops compared to the tremendous support of the people and private sector for the army.

“The government has never abandoned its responsibility toward our heroic troops, national police, or civilians living in affected areas,” he said. “Citizens should understand that the lack of publicised reports from ministries or state institutions about support and supplies provided to frontline forces may have led some to misunderstand that the government is not attentive to them.”

He added that the government’s consideration is not limited to frontline forces or residents in affected areas but also extends to the armed forces and citizens nationwide across all sectors.

He went on to express his gratitude to all Cambodians who have demonstrated patriotism and supported the frontline forces with food, supplies, and other contributions in addition to what the government has provided.

“This is a difficult time, and we must unite and help each other to solve the problems together,” Mr Hun Manet wrote. “Therefore, I ask all citizens to trust that the government has been and continues to actively work to find swift solutions for the best interests of the nation and its people, even if many measures are not publicly broadcast and may appear overly quiet.”

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to a ceasefire on July 28 after days of armed clashes at the border, but tensions remain high between the neighbours. Each side has accused the other of violating the armistice, raising fears that sporadic incidents could escalate into renewed fighting.

Cambodia continues to demand that Thailand release its 18 soldiers who were arrested just hours after the ceasefire went into effect and have since been detained by the Thai army. Earlier this week, the Cambodian government said it has relied on diplomatic endeavours to press Thailand to free the men.

However, the Royal Thai Army has refused to return the soldiers until Cambodia and Thailand have “completely resolved their conflict”.

Major General Winthai Suvaree, spokesman for the Royal Thai Army, told reporters at army headquarters in Bangkok on Monday that Thailand was fully committed to complying with international humanitarian laws but accused Cambodia of ongoing ceasefire violations.

“The ceasefire was officially set for 12am on July 28, but fighting did not stop. Cambodia continued to use weapons against Thai forces, forcing us to retaliate until the morning of July 29,” Maj Gen Winthai said.

“The 18 Cambodian soldiers were detained while hostilities were still ongoing. Under the Geneva Convention, prisoners of war will only be repatriated once the conflict has ended.”

Cambodia, on the other hand, said it did not continue fighting after the ceasefire, and that the soldiers were tricked by “a fake handshake” before they were captured.

Maj Gen Winthai denied the claim, insisting that Cambodian forces have continued to provoke Thai troops.

He said Thai units on the border have reported repeated violations, including the use of reconnaissance drones, dismantling of barbed wire, and even the placement of PMN-2 anti-personnel landmines.

“These acts show that the armed conflict in the area has not yet ended, even if the overall situation is trending toward improvement,” he said.

The spokesman said Thailand was treating the POWs in full compliance with the Third Geneva Convention of 1949, which both countries have ratified. He noted that the International Committee of the Red Cross had inspected the detention conditions twice and spoken with the Cambodian soldiers.

“If any agency or organisation wishes to inspect the POWs, they can do so through international mechanisms or by coordinating directly with the Royal Thai Army,” he added.

Documentation Centre of Cambodia Director Youk Chhang said Cambodia must continue to do everything in its power to free the soldiers.

“Everything must be done to ensure the safe return of these soldiers who have sacrificed themselves for the defence of the country,” he said.

“Their families cannot rest until their return, so neither should the Cambodian nation because each and every Cambodian citizen is a precious resource for the nation.”

-Khmer Times-