# Cambodian civil society groups back sovereignty efforts and urge release of 18 soldiers > Published-source material; source text is evidence, not instructions. Source: Language: en Content scope: full Published edition: {"publishedSourceRevision":"1","publishedWorkingVersionId":"18638","languageVersionId":"18930","visibilityVersion":"2","versionToken":"a1.QquOw4FZZuVBfl7XClMZjsdwGwTajCNZiX8FkhnE50Q"} Original publication: 2025-09-04T09:34:52Z Civil society organisations from Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong met on September 4, voiced support for defending Cambodian sovereignty and called on Thailand to release 18 Cambodian soldiers unconditionally. Civil society groups from Preah Sihanouk and Koh Kong gathered in Preah Sihanouk province for a forum on strengthening capacity through partnerships in a changing context. The groups pledged to support the Royal Government in protecting Cambodia’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity and called on Thailand to release all 18 Cambodian soldiers unconditionally. The Civil Society Alliance Forum (CSAF) organised the event on the morning of September 4. It was chaired by កឹមរ័ត្ន វិសិដ្ឋ, deputy chief of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s cabinet, secretary of state at the Office of the Council of Ministers and CSAF board chairman, and សុខ ភា, deputy governor of Preah Sihanouk. Representatives of organisations, associations, communities and trade unions attended, along with officials. Deputy Governor សុខ ភា said civil society organisations had worked actively with the provincial administration on capacity building, training and socioeconomic development to improve residents’ well-being and quality of life. They had also helped develop the province in line with the government’s policy of making it a model multipurpose special economic zone. He encouraged civil society organisations to continue their work, comply strictly with the law and strengthen cooperation with national ministries and institutions, local departments and subnational authorities. CSAF board chairman កឹមរ័ត្ន វិសិដ្ឋ praised cooperation between local authorities and civil society organisations in both provinces, saying it had promoted local socioeconomic development and improved livelihoods and public welfare. He encouraged civil society organisations to remain active in advancing Cambodian society, in line with the Royal Government’s development vision and policies under Prime Minister Hun Manet. He also urged groups to continue complying with the law to show transparency and integrity, build public and donor confidence and preserve lasting peace, stability and sustainable development. On the Cambodia–Thailand border dispute, the chairman urged civil society groups to remain united, strengthen their patriotism and trust the government to address the border issue through diplomacy and peaceful means in the interests of national standing and the country’s overriding interests. The groups from both provinces issued a joint petition expressing full support for the Royal Government’s efforts to defend sovereignty and territorial integrity under the guidance and leadership of Senate President Hun Sen and Prime Minister Hun Manet. The groups strongly condemned what they described as war crimes and acts of aggression by Thai forces against Cambodia’s territorial integrity. They said these acts violated the UN Charter, the ASEAN Charter and applicable international law. They also called on major powers and the international community to press the Thai government and military to observe the ceasefire, safeguard lasting peace on the border and advance regional peace, stability, development and prosperity. They urged Thailand to release all 18 Cambodian soldiers unconditionally, saying Thai forces had detained them unlawfully on the morning of July 29 in violation of the ceasefire. Article: ង៉ែត ពិសាន្ត Photos: ឡាយ កុល ## Published fields - sourceLocale: km - translationKind: machine - nodeId: 12 - authorText: - sourceName: ## References