Lieutenant General Srey Doek, Deputy Commander of the Royal Cambodian Army and commander of the 3rd Support Division, appeared on 2/12 at an event in the border province of Preah Vihear. The Cambodian army released images showing General Doek standing next to Men Sam An, a member of the King's Supreme Privy Council. These images ended months of speculation about General Doek's fate.

Lieutenant General Srey Doek at an event in Preah Vihear province on 2/12. Photo: Royal Cambodian Army

Thai media outlets reported on 30/7 that General Doek, a close confidant of Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen, had been killed in border clashes. These reports cited sources from Thailand's 2nd Army Region, which Boonsin Padklang, now retired, commanded at the time. Cambodia later accused Boonsin Padklang of escalating violence in the border dispute.

Following these reports, Jakrapob Penkair, an advisor to the Thai Prime Minister's Secretary-General, posted on Facebook, accusing Lieutenant General Doek of instigating the confrontation. Cambodian officials repeatedly denied the reports of General Doek's death, labeling them misinformation. However, his absence from public view for several months fueled speculation that the Thai media claims might be true.

The reappearance of General Doek comes amidst lingering tensions from a five-day border conflict between Thailand and Cambodia in July. The clashes resulted in at least 43 deaths and displaced over 300,000 civilians on both sides.

US President Donald Trump and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim witnessed a peace agreement signed in Kuala Lumpur on 26/10. The agreement stipulated the withdrawal of heavy weapons from the border area, allowing ceasefire monitors access. Thailand also committed to returning 18 captured Cambodian soldiers. Despite the accord, both nations have since frequently accused each other of non-compliance.

While the Cambodian military did not release figures for military casualties from the July border clashes, it confirmed that Lieutenant General Duong Samneang, 67, commander of the 7th Intervention Brigade, was killed in action in Preah Vihear province.

By Huyen Le (Khmer Times, AFP)