Cambodian PM Asks Thailand To Release 20 Troops

JAKARTA - Cambodia accuses Thailand of detaining 20 of its troops and killing another person in a post-fire incident. Thailand was asked to immediately release dozens of soldiers.

Fierce clashes over five days between the two neighboring Southeast Asian countries that began last week killed 43 people, many of whom were civilians.

The border war also left more than 300,000 people displaced, until a ceasefire in Malaysia on Monday halted fighting.

Thailand has since accused Cambodian troops of violating the ceasefire several times, a charge authorities have denied in Phnom Penh, which accuses the Thai military of wrongly detaining some of its troops.

"We urge Thailand to immediately return all 20 of our troops, including other troops if anyone is under the control of Thailand," Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said on Thursday, July 31.

Meanwhile, Cambodia's senior defense official, Lieutenant General Rath Dararoth, said a Cambodian soldier had been killed in Thai custody since the ceasefire and his body had been returned. He gave no further details.

Thailand is currently detaining 20 Cambodian soldiers who have surrendered, including two who are undergoing medical treatment, Young Admiral Thailand Surasant Kongsiri told reporters.

Thailand accused Cambodia of violating the second ceasefire.

"We are investigating them to verify the facts. Once this is over, they will be released," said Thailand's acting Prime Minister, FUmtham Wechayachai, stressing the Thai military did not violate the ceasefire agreement.

According to negotiations between military commanders held after the announcement of the ceasefire on Monday, Thailand and Cambodia agreed to facilitate repatriation of injured soldiers and the bodies of those killed, in addition to refraining from adding troops along the border.

Cambodia brought military attaches and diplomats to a border checkpoint on Wednesday to verify the ceasefire as both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire.