Another Cambodian logger killed by Thai soldiers

Nineteen year-old Meas Ka-On from Tropeang Prasat district in Oddar Meanchey province has been shot dead on 7th December by Thai soldier after allegedly crossing the border to lod on the Thai side of the borders, reports Radio Free Asia.

Mr. Sim Seng, chief of Bak Anlong village, said Meas Ka-On was part of a group of 13 people trying to cross the borders when Thai soldiers started shooting indiscriminately at them and Meas Ka-On was hit and killed on the spot. The other 12 people returned home unharmed. He said the Cambodian authority had contacted the Thai side in which they promised to send the body of Meas Ka-On to his family in Cambodia.

Mr. Meas Hayly, father of the victim, said while he was waiting to receive the body of his son that he is very angry. "(We crossed the borders) because we are poor. He had crossed the borders 2-3 days ago through contacts with his friends and many people from the village had also went. I am very upset, I tell you the truth, if we are allowed to go and retrieve my son's body and if I had the gun I would probably bring the gun with me, I tell me the truth", he said.

Many Cambodians had been killed by Thai soldiers after they attempted to cross the borders. Since September 2009, 4 Cambodians had been killed by Thai soldiers. On 27 November, 19 year-old Sok Samnang was killed near O'Smach while picking wild mushrooms in the border areas. and on 11th September 2009, 16 year-old Yon Rith was allegedly wounded and burned alive by Thai soldiers.

At the same time, 24 Khmer Krom asylum-seekers had just arrived in Cambodia after being arrested and repatriated from Thailand.

The group was waiting for the UNHCR to interview them to determine their status when Thai police arrested them in Bangkok. After arriving in Cambodia, they appealed to the Cambodian authority to offer them political asylum and not send them back home to Vietnam for fearing that they will face persecutions.

By Khmerization