Border crossing

LAOTIAN police have released 15 Cambodian farmers from custody and returned them to their villages in Stung Treng province after detaining them in Laos’ Champasak province for illegally crossing the border.

Some 18 Cambodian farmers have been arrested since November for straying into Laotian territory while searching for food in the dense jungle on the border.

“They enter the deep forest and do not know where the border line is,” said Si Suong, Siempang district governor, yesterday.

“Our neighbouring countries always talk to promote good relations because sometimes Cambodian farmers get lost and sometimes Laos people get lost and illegally cross the border.”

Three other Cambodian farmers remain in custody in Laos, said Sun Ban, provincial border commander of Battalion 701 in Stung Treng province, adding that they were arrested on December 9.

“We are talking with our counterparts in Laos to secure the release of the three farmers but no agreement has been reached,” he said.