THE son of an opposition Sam Rainsy Party activist was shot dead by a border defence soldier in Pailin province’s Sala Krao district, the victim’s father said yesterday. Koeun Phat, deputy chief of Kamrieng commune in Battambang province, said his son, Koeun Thoeun, was shot in the chest with an AK-47 on Sunday night. “I don’t know clearly why this incident happened,” he said. Prom Pat, commander of border defence Drigade 504, said a soldier under his command had shot Koeun Thoeun in an act of self-defence.