Wednesday, 21 October 2009

Thai Soldiers Shoot Dead Cambodian


Written by DAP NEWS -- Wednesday, 21 October 2009
(Posted by CAAI News Media)

A Cambodian citizen living in Oddor Meanchey province was gunned down in a hail of bullets on Monday evening, one of three citizens fired upon by Thai black-clad soldiers and the Thai Forestry Administration, according a Cambodia official in Oddor Meanchey province.

“Thai black-clad soldiers and the Thai Forestry Administration officers shot one our citizens at around 5:30pm on Monday in O’Smach, Oddor Meanchey,” Chen Sivuth, a provincial administration official, told DAP News Cambodia on Tuesday.

The victim, named Seum Bun Chhim, male, aged 25, lived in Chamkar Chek village, Osmach Commune, Samrong District, Odor Meachhey province, he added. According to the official, the victim suffered serious gunshot wounds to his torso. He died on the arduous journey to the nearest hospital, very far from the scene.

Apparently a “cruel businessmen” hired the men to transport felled trees from the mountains. While logging is against gthe law and punishable with stiff jail sentences, Chen Sivuth noted that no trial or investigation at all by Thai authorities had taken place. The Cambodian authorities are currently investigating, he added.

Thai embassy in Phnom Penh could not be reached for any comment on Tuesday. Koy Kuong, a spokesman for Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told DAP News Cambodia that so far his ministry has yet to receive any formal letter from Thailand about the incident.

“We are waiting for the formal letter before we react,” Koy Kuong said.

Oddor Meanchey Provincial Governor Pech Sokhen told DAP News Cambodia that he has warned his subordinators to stop Cambodian citizens from entering Thai territory.

No comments: