Three Bulgarian peacekeepers died when a meal they were hosting for Khmer Rouge guerillas
turned into a cold blooded execution, the United Nations spokesman reported Sunday,
Apr. 4.
A Khmer Rouge major and two soldiers showed up the Bulgarian platoon's compound in
the Thpong district of Kompong Speu on the evening of Apr. 2.
"Since they seemed to have friendly intentions, they were allowed past the two
sentinels," Falt said.
Relations with the local the Khmer Rouge were good and given the fact that they had
visited the compound before, Major Don and his two men were welcomed by the Bulgarian
Master Sergeant and invited for dinner in the peacekeepers' tent.
"There was total confidence in the friendly character of the visit," Falt
said.
Towards the end of the meal one of the guerillas got up from the table and left the
tent. Wondering about his whereabouts, Major Don also left.
But he soon returned. This time, however, he was accompanied by ten armed guerillas.
The atmosphere, which had been amicable, suddenly changed as the major became hostile,
the U.N. spokesman said.
"Sensing danger, the Bulgarian sergeant ordered some of his men to go and fetch
their weapons," Falt said.
During this time, the Bulgarians who had remained in the dining tent were targeted
in a cold blooded, point blank range attack, which left the three dead and three
others seriously injured.
"Pvt.. Atanass Petrov Radev, 23 years old, Pvt Peter Krastev Baychev, 23 years
old, and Lance Corporal Cvetan Ivanov Petkov, 19 years old, were wounded and died
before they could reach a medical facility," Falt said.
"We don't know whether it was a premeditated attack, it's difficult to say.
But there was no dispute whatsoever. For no reason they opened fire," the spokesman
said.
The U.N. chief condemned the attack when he addressed the April 4 meeting of the
Supreme National Council.
"I condemn the treacherous and cowardly act in the strongest terms. It is clear
that the three Bulgarian peacekeepers died while attempting to engage in peaceful
dialogue with the men, who turned on them and tried to kill them. ," Yasushi
Akashi said.
The guerillas firing AK-47s and throwing grenades proceeded to steal two guns, U.S.
$2,000 and a radio before they were repelled by the Bulgarians.
"Some of the Khmer Rouge guerrillas may have been injured by the U.N. soldiers,"
Falt said.
