Although U.S. President Donald Trump and senior U.S. State Department officials expect Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers, the Thai government has imposed conditions on these releases, particularly the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border.
In the Oct. 26 Kuala Lumpur peace deal, Mr. Tram said the deal would culminate in the release of all 18 Cambodian soldiers. In addition, a senior U.S. State Department official was quoted by the Reuters news agency as expecting that the release should be "made immediately."
A U.S. foreign official stated: "Our hope is that the release process, based on a steadfast commitment, will be able to begin as soon as the agreement is signed."
At the first bilateral forum between Prime Minister Hun Manet and his Thai counterpart, Putin Chan Vikkul, on October 28 in Malaysia, Mr. Hun Manet mentioned Cambodia's commitment to fully respect the agreement and reiterated calls for the release of Cambodian soldiers.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cambodia stated in a press release about the meeting: "Taking this opportunity, His Majesty King Hun Manet reiterated the call for the early release of 18 Cambodian soldiers on humanitarian grounds and in accordance with the Kuala Lumpur Joint Statement."
However, Thai Prime Minister Puttin Chan Vinh Kul has said that the release will begin unless there is progress in enforcing certain conditions, especially the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border, according to Thai government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat.
Siripong said after the meeting that Thai and Cambodian leaders had talked about the disarmament of heavy weapons, which began as soon as Oct. 26.
But Siripong continues: "The [Thai] prime minister also underlined to the Cambodian prime minister that the withdrawal of troops should not be only symbolic, but must accelerate the disarmament in a manner that is specific and decisive and expeditious, so that Thailand can return the 18 Cambodian soldiers who are in custody to Cambodia."
On the night of October 26, Cambodia began the first phase of withdrawing heavy weapons from the border area and storing them at Siem Reap.
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