Thailand to repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers under Geneva Convention

Thailand will repatriate 18 Cambodian soldiers  on August 1 through the Chong Chom border crossing, following their recent detention for encroaching onto Thai territory amid armed clashes in the Sam Tae area of Sisaket province.

According to reports from the Second Army Area’s security unit on July 31, the soldiers have been treated in accordance with international humanitarian principles and the Third Geneva Convention, which governs the treatment of prisoners of war, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The detained group includes one soldier who sustained a broken arm and another who is reportedly suffering from a mental health crisis as a result of the recent conflict.

Thai authorities have emphasized their commitment to international law, affirming that the treatment and planned repatriation of the Cambodian soldiers fully align with the Third Geneva Convention (1949), which ensures humane treatment for prisoners of war and outlines protocols for their prompt release after the end of hostilities.

“The Third Geneva Convention (1949) stipulates that detained soldiers must be treated humanely, including providing adequate food and relief supplies. It also mandates that such soldiers are to be released and repatriated to their home country without undue delay once hostilities have ended. This convention serves as a crucial legal safeguard for the protection of prisoners of war during wartime,” Thai authorities noted.

By Vafa Guliyeva