Before their repatriation next Wednesday, seven of the 18 Cambodian PoWs have asked for a special favor from the Thai Army. They are seeking dental checks and treatment, but their request was politely denied due to cost.
An informed army source said the PoWs’ request was conveyed to the commander of the camp in which they were being detained. The commander later responded that they should seek the dental treatment after their return home.
The source said that the cost for each of them was estimated at about 10,000 baht and that the Thai Army cannot justify the expense.
The repatriation of the PoWs, captured by Thai troops during the five-day armed conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in late July, will take place on November 12th, if Cambodia can meet the Thai preconditions by withdrawing heavy weaponry from border areas and start cooperating in mine clearance in five specified areas by tomorrow.
For repatriation, the PoWs will be given a physical check, to be observed by representatives of the United Nations Security Council and ASEAN observer teams based in Thailand and Cambodia. They will be escorted by Thai troops from the Second Army Region to the Chanthaburi-Trat Task Force in Chanthaburi for an overnight stay on November 11th, before they are sent home the next day.
Yesterday, Thai and Cambodian demining units surveyed the common border area at the KM47 marker, in Non Mak Moon sub-district of Sa Kaeo, opposite Cambodia’s Banteay Meanchey province, before working out a joint action plan for mine clearance operations.
