Pirate attack

A TOTAL of 15 Cambodian fishermen who were attacked in early November by Somali pirates were repatriated in December, the spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said yesterday, amending a statement last week indicating that the victims had not yet returned.

The 15 Cambodian nationals were among 23 victims – including seven Thais and one Yemeni policeman – who were attacked 70 nautical miles off the coast of Somalia by pirates, who hijacked their ship and later sunk it.

The fishermen were rescued while adrift in the Gulf of Aden by a Thai ship, the HTMS Pattani.

Koy Kuong said yesterday that the Cambodian victims were taken to Oman and then Thailand, before being sent back to the Kingdom.

“These people were safely returned to their homes since December 4, 2010,” he said.

Last week, Koy Kuong said the Cambodian embassy in Bangkok was “still working hard with Thai naval forces to find out [where they are] and to bring them back to their homes”. BUTH REAKSMEY KONGKEA