Thai authorities on Monday repatriated the bodies of the two Cambodians allegedly involved in illegal logging activities who were shot to death by Thai forces last Friday.

Major General Phat Sophen, director of the Cambodian-Thai Border Relation Office in Preah Vihear province said yesterday that the bodies were returned Monday afternoon and the families of the deceased have retrieved their relatives’ remains.

The two victims, So Han, 35, a resident of Preah Vihear’s Choam Ksan district, and Sok Sarath, 40, a villager from Kampong Thom’s Baray district, were shot dead on Friday night some eight kilometres from the Preah Vihear temple while they were allegedly crossing the border to log.

In a separate incident the same day, four other loggers, allegedly supported by Cambodian RCAF troops, also entered Thailand for logging.

After a brief firefight, one logger was injured and another apprehended by Thai soldiers.  

Sophen said his office requested his release.

This was rejected, however, and he will be prosecuted under Thai law.

To contact the reporter on this story: Cheang Sokha at [email protected]