PHNOM PENH: Cambodia on Friday (May 15) freed a Thai national, who had been detained recently for illegally crossing deep into its territory in Oddar Meanchey province, said a defence ministry spokesperson.
Lt. Gen. Maly Socheata, an undersecretary of state and spokeswoman for Cambodia's Ministry of National Defence, said the man was repatriated to the Thai side on Friday morning after having been detained since April 26.
"The repatriation of the Thai national followed a formal request for coordination submitted through the regional Border Liaison Working Group -- a mechanism under the Cambodia-Thailand Regional Border Committee (RBC) -- on May 13," she said.
Socheata said Nit Narong, head of the RBC Secretariat for Cambodian Military Region 4, handed over the man to Kamphanat Waphansuk, chief of staff and secretary-general of the RBC for Thai Army Area 2, in a process conducted strictly in accordance with humanitarian principles.
"On this occasion, both delegations engaged in bilateral talks aimed at bolstering mutual trust and enhancing cooperation to prevent and neutralize provocative misinformation," she said.
"Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to the strict, full and honest implementation of all existing agreements to promote long-term peace, stability, and security along the border." - Xinhua
