Cambodia accuses Thailand of 'abducting' troops after ceasefire
Thailand says five-day war, just in economic damages, cost at least $400 million
By Luke Hunt
Cambodia has accused Thailand of 'abducting' 20 soldiers as they were shaking hands shortly after a ceasefire ended a five-day border conflict, adding one had escaped, two are believed to have been killed while the remainder are still being held.
A Cambodian military commander at Chom Tae, near Preah Vihear, made a point of informing 13 foreign military attachés and diplomats of the alleged abduction during a ceasefire monitoring late on July 30.
'The Cambodian military emphasized that after the ceasefire officially took effect on the morning of July 29, Cambodian troops approached the Thai side in good faith to shake hands,' Fresh News , a Cambodian government mouthpiece, said.'However, while returning, Thai forces abruptly pointed their guns and abducted the Cambodian troops,' it said. Their detention followed claims by Thailand that Cambodian soldiers had breached the ceasefire agreement and Bangkok admitted to holding 18 Khmer soldiers.Royal Thai Army spokesperson, Maj. Gen. Winthai Suvaree, told a press conference that two soldiers had been killed while 18 surrendered after a firefight. He insisted they must undergo due legal procedures before being repatriated.
Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, spokesperson for Cambodia's defense ministry added that Thailand was holding a total of 20 Cambodian soldiers and that the body of one soldier had been returned. 'We will continue negotiations to the fullest extent in order to swiftly and safely bring all our comrades home,' she told journalists, adding help had been sought from the Malaysian military in negotiating their release.
At least 43 people — mostly civilians — were killed and many more wounded during the border conflict but neither side has updated their casualty figures in recent days. Thailand has also said the bodies of 12 Cambodian soldiers had been sent home.--ucanews.com
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