Cambodia asks Thailand to probe claims Cambodian was 'burned alive'+

PHNOM PENH, Sept. 15 (AP) - (Kyodo)—The Cambodian government asked Thailand on Tuesday to investigate claims that a 16-year-old Cambodian boy was burned alive by Thai security forces after he was shot and arrested for illegal logging in the border area.
The Cambodian government, which made the representation in a diplomatic letter to the Thai government, said the alleged incident occurred last weekend in the border area of Cambodia's northern Udor Mean Cheay Province.

A copy of the letter was seen by Kyodo News. .

Citing a report from provincial authorities, the letter said Thai security forces clad in black fired at a group of Cambodian villagers while they were allegedly cutting down trees illegally in the border area.

"Two teenagers from the group were badly wounded in the shooting. One of them, named Mao Kheung, managed to escape the scene, while the other injured boy, Yon Rith, 16-years-old, was arrested and burned alive by Thai forces," the letter said.

"The Royal Government of Cambodia considers these reported acts as a serious breach of internationally accepted humanitarian principle, which should not be committed by any agent of a civilized state in official capacity," the letter said.

It urged the Thai government to take measures to prevent atrocities from happening and conduct a thorough investigation into this incident and bring to justice those responsible.