The Kien Svay police discovered on Sep. 27 a lost U.N. Land Cruiser in a banana field

in Kandal village, Banteay Dek, Kien Svay district, Kandal.

According to a reliable source, the U.N. Land Cruiser was about to be discharged

to Vietnam by a gang of armed men, but was concealed in the banana field on the night

of Sept. 26 when the offenders feared that they might be found by an APC-equipped

patrol team on Route 1.

The patrol team was driving on that road to maintain security for King Sihanouk who

would be visiting Prey Veng on Sept. 27. The thieves were likely afraid of the patrol

team, thinking the latter was preparing to ambush them, so they were forced to hide

the car in the banana field.

The U.N. logos on both sides of the car were completely removed by the armed gang,

but it was identified as an UNTAC Land Cruiser by an UNTAC assignment letter found

in the vehicle with the number plate U.N. 236, and chassis and engine numbers were

clearly written in it.

The same source said that when the car was brought to Kien Svay Inspector Unit, a

group dressed in police and civilian uniforms came to claim the vehicle, but the

district inspectors refused and asked them to contact the Kandal Police Station.

The district inspectors did not stop those folks, saying they are members of the

Big Sirs in Phnom Penh.

At the moment the whereabouts of the Land Cruiser is a mystery, because some Sirs

in Kandal have said the car was already handed over to the National Security Ministry,

while the Ministry has said this is not so.

- Translated from Oct. 1 Rasmey Kampuchea by Moeun Chhean Nariddh