Another Cambodian illegally logging in Thailand was shot dead on Tuesday, making him at least the fourth to be killed while felling trees in Cambodia’s western neighbour this month alone.

Chi Sophal, deputy chief of the Cambodian-Thai border communication team at O’Smach International Border Crossing in Oddar Meachey province, said 22-year-old Tun Kimsan was shot in the head at about 4pm on Tuesday.

“The deceased’s family is very poor. They do not even have land to do farming, so he took a risk to log, even though the authorities warned the villagers not to enter the forest to log,” he said.

Srey Naren, Oddar Meanchey provincial coordinator for the rights group Adhoc, said Tun Kimsan was shot in the ear after he crossed the border with four boys aged between 10 and 14.

Tun Kimsan’s family buried him yesterday in his hometown of Aphiwath village in Samrong town’s O’smach commune after Thai soldiers returned the body about two and a half hours after he was shot, Chi Sophal said.

The families of three other men who were shot while logging in Thailand nine days ago filed a complaint with Adhoc yesterday urging them to stop Thai officials from cremating their deceased love ones instead of returning their corpses.

Thai officials have reportedly refused to return the bodies, instead agreeing to give the families of the deceased their ashes on Thursday.

Mach Saray, 28, who is four months pregnant, said she had lost her husband Tri Sambo, 37, and brother Mach Klo, 35, after Thai authorities opened fire on them.

“I ask Adhoc to intervene, getting my husband and brother’s corpses home and I call for any NGOs to feed my four children. I am too poor to feed them,” she said.