Cambodian woman, 2 children stung to death by hornets after disturbing nest

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
The Canadian Press

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia - A Cambodian woman and her two young children have died after being stung repeatedly by a swarm of hornets.

Police say 24-year-old Loy Sophea took her year-old daughter and two-year-old son into the forest while she cut firewood for cooking. The hornets attacked after she accidentally disturbed their nest.

Police say the woman tried to protect the children by using her body to cover them.

But all three were repeatedly stung by the hornets on their heads and bodies.

The boy died en route to hospital and the woman and her daughter succumbed later.

The incident occurred Monday in Siem Reap province, about 230 kilometres northwest of the capital, Phnom Penh.

Police Clash Over Land Leaves 2 Villagers Dead [in Preah Vihear]

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
15 November 2007

An armed standoff between hired gunmen and reported victims of a land grab has left at least two villagers dead and five injured in the northern province of Preah Vihear, officials said.

Sor kim Ol, Preah Vihear deputy governor, said villagers had incited the violence, and the security forces had only defended themselves.

"The authorities did not open fire on the villagers; that is only their right of self defense," he said. "At first the authorities just shot into the air, and the villagers came toward them."

The villagers were driven from their land following its sale to businessmen, said Chan Saveth, an investigator for the rights group Adhoc.

"When the villagers were aware that the land was sold to bad businessmen and not for any preservation purposes, they started to protest against that," he said.