Hun Sen Questions Silence of UN Rapporteur on Continued Detention of 18 Cambodian Soldiers by Thai Armed Forces

 

Khmer Circle: Conflict of interest?

 

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Phnom Penh, 18 November 2025 — Senate President Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen on Monday raised serious concerns over the continued silence of Mr. Vitit Muntarbhorn, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia, regarding the prolonged detention of 18 Cambodian soldiers by Thai armed forces.

 

Speaking at the 33rd National Assembly of Monastic Officials, Samdech Techo Hun Sen questioned why the UN Rapporteur—who is himself a Thai national—has issued no public statement on a matter involving serious human rights implications and a potential breach of international law.

 

“Muntarbhorn, UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Cambodia and a Thai national—where has he gone? Why hasn’t he said a word?” he asked, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation.

 

According to Samdech Techo Hun Sen, the Cambodian soldiers were captured after the ceasefire earlier this month in an area along the disputed border. He stressed that these servicemen were not prisoners of war, but rather Cambodian soldiers illegally arrested on Cambodian territory, in violation of international legal norms and humanitarian principles.

 

 

 

Samdech Techo Hun Sen further alleged that the soldiers were being used as leverage in broader negotiations, a practice he described as unacceptable and contrary to international standards governing the treatment of detainees. Thai authorities have yet to comment publicly on the matter.

 

Calling for national solidarity, Samdech Techo Hun Sen urged the Cambodian public and the families of the detained soldiers to recognize them as men who have “already sacrificed themselves for the nation,” reaffirming that they are not war criminals but victims of an unlawful act.

 

He sharply criticized Thailand for detaining the soldiers only hours after the ceasefire, questioning the conduct of Thai authorities:

 

“Is there any other so-called civilized nation that arrests captives to use as bargaining chips?”

Samdech Techo Hun Sen’s remarks have intensified calls for international scrutiny over Thailand’s actions and for the UN human rights mechanisms to address the situation with transparency, impartiality, and urgency.