BANGKOK — The International Committee of the Red Cross conducted a standard visit to 18 Cambodian prisoners of war held by Thailand’s military, amid ongoing border tensions between the two countries.
On August 5, 2025, ICRC officials from Bangkok visited the detention facility in the 2nd Army Area’s jurisdiction, facilitated by the Royal Thai Army and Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The visit followed standard ICRC procedures for assessing prisoner conditions and enabling family communication.
Standard Humanitarian Protocol
Thai military officials emphasized the visit was conducted under normal ICRC protocols rather than as an inspection demanded by Cambodia. The ICRC, an internationally recognized humanitarian organization, directly oversees prisoner of war matters with established standards of neutrality.
“This reflects Thailand’s respect for and commitment to strict adherence to international humanitarian principles,” the Royal Thai Army stated, citing obligations under the 1949 Geneva Convention to which Thailand is a signatory.
During the visit, ICRC officials met privately with prisoners without time restrictions and arranged health examinations. Thai authorities used the opportunity to refute allegations of torture or mistreatment that have appeared in some media reports, calling such claims “entirely unfounded.”
Prisoner Conditions
The Thai Army reported all 18 Cambodian prisoners are in good health with no injuries, receiving three meals daily in safe, hygienic accommodation with regular medical attention from local physicians.
Military officials briefed the ICRC delegation on the circumstances leading to the detentions and outlined care measures, including the recent repatriation of wounded prisoners and those with psychiatric conditions to Cambodia on August 1.
Transparency Measures
Following ICRC protocols that prohibit outside observers during prisoner interviews, Thai representatives and media were excluded from the meetings. Thai officials characterized this as demonstrating “transparency and cooperation between the Thai side and international humanitarian organizations.”
The visit comes amid heightened tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border, with both countries recently experiencing military confrontations and exchanging accusations through media channels.
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