By Suon Sophalmony
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
Click here to read the article in Khmer
Thai black-clad soldiers shot on 4 Cambodian men, killing one of them in the evening of 23 June, when the men were returning back home from work in Thailand and they were looking for snails in the forest to eat.
The shooting took place in Teak San village in Klonghat district, Sakaew province, Thailand, about 200-meter from the river delimiting the border, next to the Kaun Phnom pass, in front of Trapaing Prolit village, Santepheap commune, Sampov Loun district, Battambang province in Cambodia.
37-year-old Ek Ra who lives in Trapaing Prolit village indicated on Thursday morning: “I returned back from work in Thailand … On our return, I walked with 4 people, then we collected snails in the forest to cook and eat. After we collected a small bagful, about one kilogram, then we continued walking when the Thai soldiers yelled at us to stop and to sit down. The fellow who walked in the front was about to sit down, I did not sit down yet when they shot us, then I ran! I thought we could all escape, but the victim – Dim Doeur – was shot twice: once on his right calf and the other on his right shoulder.”
Another man who was also shot by the Thai black-clad soldiers added: “We were collecting snails to cook. We only left the road by a little bit, and we came out of the stream when we met them! I was in front, they ordered us to sit down. I sat down, when I was on the right hand side, they shot the fellows in the back, so I ran! When we ran, they pursued us and they shot me twice but they missed me.”
44-year-old Dim Doeur was shot and killed by the Thai black-clad soldiers, the other 3 men – 37-year-old Ek Ra, 23-year-old Phon Ravuthea and 39-year-old Yav Yong – escaped death. They all live in Trapaing Prolit village, Santepheap commune, Sampov Loun district, Battambang province.
The Thai side and the group of Thai black-clad soldiers who are accused of the shooting above could not be reached.
An Saray, the Cambodian border liaison official in the region, indicated that the Cambodian authority intervened with the Thai side regarding this shooting, but all that the Thai side did was to express their regret only.
An Saray indicated that Cambodia will complain to the Thai side and will demand that the shooting culprit be apprehended and brought to face justice according to the law: “On my end, I am telling the victim’s family to prepare a complaint to send to me so I can send to the border liaison office to complain to the Thai side about this shooting and killing.”
Yin Meng Ly, an official of the Adhoc human rights organization, condemned the shooting by Thai troops on Khmer villagers: “This is a very inhumane action that should stop! Even if the Cambodian villagers went there illegally to do something there, they should not be shot at and killed!”
Yin Meng Ly asked the Cambodian ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Cambodian government to intervene with Thailand to bring to justice the Thai black-clad soldiers involved.
Koy Kuong, MoFA spokesman, could not be reached regarding this shooting case.
The body of 44-year-old Dim Doeur was delivered to his family in Trapaing Prolit villagers for his final rite, after the Sa Kaew hospital was not able to save his life.
The shooting took place in Teak San village in Klonghat district, Sakaew province, Thailand, about 200-meter from the river delimiting the border, next to the Kaun Phnom pass, in front of Trapaing Prolit village, Santepheap commune, Sampov Loun district, Battambang province in Cambodia.
37-year-old Ek Ra who lives in Trapaing Prolit village indicated on Thursday morning: “I returned back from work in Thailand … On our return, I walked with 4 people, then we collected snails in the forest to cook and eat. After we collected a small bagful, about one kilogram, then we continued walking when the Thai soldiers yelled at us to stop and to sit down. The fellow who walked in the front was about to sit down, I did not sit down yet when they shot us, then I ran! I thought we could all escape, but the victim – Dim Doeur – was shot twice: once on his right calf and the other on his right shoulder.”
Another man who was also shot by the Thai black-clad soldiers added: “We were collecting snails to cook. We only left the road by a little bit, and we came out of the stream when we met them! I was in front, they ordered us to sit down. I sat down, when I was on the right hand side, they shot the fellows in the back, so I ran! When we ran, they pursued us and they shot me twice but they missed me.”
44-year-old Dim Doeur was shot and killed by the Thai black-clad soldiers, the other 3 men – 37-year-old Ek Ra, 23-year-old Phon Ravuthea and 39-year-old Yav Yong – escaped death. They all live in Trapaing Prolit village, Santepheap commune, Sampov Loun district, Battambang province.
The Thai side and the group of Thai black-clad soldiers who are accused of the shooting above could not be reached.
An Saray, the Cambodian border liaison official in the region, indicated that the Cambodian authority intervened with the Thai side regarding this shooting, but all that the Thai side did was to express their regret only.
An Saray indicated that Cambodia will complain to the Thai side and will demand that the shooting culprit be apprehended and brought to face justice according to the law: “On my end, I am telling the victim’s family to prepare a complaint to send to me so I can send to the border liaison office to complain to the Thai side about this shooting and killing.”
Yin Meng Ly, an official of the Adhoc human rights organization, condemned the shooting by Thai troops on Khmer villagers: “This is a very inhumane action that should stop! Even if the Cambodian villagers went there illegally to do something there, they should not be shot at and killed!”
Yin Meng Ly asked the Cambodian ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and the Cambodian government to intervene with Thailand to bring to justice the Thai black-clad soldiers involved.
Koy Kuong, MoFA spokesman, could not be reached regarding this shooting case.
The body of 44-year-old Dim Doeur was delivered to his family in Trapaing Prolit villagers for his final rite, after the Sa Kaew hospital was not able to save his life.
14 comments:
Why don`t our military shoot the Thai Black Clad? Why not one person ever feel the need to stand up for their people? I just can not seem to comprehend this. It is so mind boggling. It`s like walking by a person who is bleeding to death and all you do is just keep walking. There is no more human in us. How can you a Cambodian Soldier and not have the inkling feeling that you must do something?
As human we are constantly evolving and this is what we have become.
Life is so cheap when looking for food at the wrong place.
Does Thai law has to shoot at someone when s/he failed to obey a command from a Thai authority?
This is pretty injustice. Someone must contact a Thai authority to verify this shooting. The shooting at innocent khmer civilians have been going on for many years now. It must stop if we want peace.
yo, Khmers are good target. But only got 1 is suck, our Thais soldiers shooting skills are not that good, need to improve.
IF KHMER SHOTS AT YOUN OR THAI.
IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WAR! BUT UNDER THE CPP- HUN SEN- HANOI.
IT OK TO HAVE KHMER KILLED AGAIN AND AGAIN?
Khmer Life are cheap because we allow it to be cheap. No Khmer writes and complain officially that is the problem.
Khmeriziation, Khmer Young, MP, Dr. Gaffar, might I plead for your collective and articulate voices be heard and write a letter of condemnation of the cruelty and brief compilation of such cases to be forwarded directly to the office of prime mister Ahbishit of Thailand?
We Khmer must condemn and shame the perpetrators into seeing their own humanities if at all we hope for them to value ours.
Thank you,
Keo
Khmer live is cheap under Hun Sen.
I have not seen any Thai prime minister helps khmer like Hun Sen helped to release a Thai spy last year.
i think siem is the real enemy of khmer people! since ancient time and even today, they still want to be enemy of cambodia and khmer people! where is the justice for my khmer people? are siem going to continue to shoot and kill innocent khmer people along the borders? khmer people and cambodia must protest and stand up against siem killing of khmer civil, etc... no excuse in the world could justify this type of siem killing and shooting at helpless khmer civilian(s). when are they going to stop this despicable act of inhumane, cruel, evil without regards for human life, let alone khmer person's life! i think cambodia should protest to the siem embassy in phnom penh!
What have become of Cambodia under AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave leadership?
Oh what the hell! The fucken Siem bastards will shoot first and talk later! It too bad that AH HUN SEN trained stupid Cambodian to talk first and shoot later!
This is a fucken war zone and why use Cambodian civilian as target! Does the fucken Siem bastard know who is armed and who is not armed? Just shoot to kill is the Siem bastard policy??? If this is a fucken war zone and I want to see more landmine and more Cambodian military patrolling the area as a lookout for the safety of Cambodian population!
How much longer does AH HUN SEN Vietcong slave want to condition Cambodian people to be a victim? The Cambodian policy from now on and all Cambodian people live along the border have the right carry weapon for their own protection!
Those who committed murder must not be live free. There are many Khmer agents in the area, and should take care of the guilty Thai.
We Khmer in Cambodia & oversea should form a special Green Naga to protect all Khmer descents around the world.
Can Madam Mu protest to the Human Right Org. for Cambodian's life lost at Thai border ?????
Can Cambodian/American stand up and protest infront of Thai Embassy in the US ?????
What's about sign pettition to Mr. Obama ?????
Thai soldiers were trained with American, Is that how they were taught to do, kill first ask question later ????? Is it Ok to kill unarmed civilian ?????
All Khmere political parties need to be united when the Khmere's life lost inhumanly !!!!
barbaric people behave this way. the cambodian government must pursue justice for its own people. if we don't this barbaric people will continue to act like animals.
Khmer people should stop going to Thailand illegally...
Why don't we just shoot those Thai bastards entering in Cambodia?
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