Preah Sihanouk Provincial Television, September 10 — On September 9 in Phnom Penh, Defence Ministry Secretary of State Lt. Gen. Rath Dararoth met Jurg Montani, head of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) regional delegation. Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Tea Seiha authorized the meeting. Montani said all 18 Royal Cambodian Armed Forces soldiers held by Thailand were safe and in good health.
The ICRC recently visited the 18 soldiers for a second time, confirming their good health and living conditions. Red Cross personnel also delivered letters from their families and returned the soldiers’ replies. The process strictly followed the Geneva Conventions. The contents were known only to the soldiers and their families and could not be inspected by outsiders.
Montani reiterated that images of the soldiers must not be released under international humanitarian law, to safeguard their privacy and dignity.
The Cambodian government also stressed that it was using every diplomatic and legal mechanism to seek the swift release of the 18 soldiers so they could return safely to Cambodia and reunite with their families.
Compiled by our newsroom
