T HE human rights group Adhoc has launched an investigation into the killing of

two men by government troops from the 6th battalion in Kompong Chhnang

province.

Adhoc believes the men were killed in a dispute over land

ownership in Kruh and Chhor Rov villages in Rolea Phiear district, which had

been rumbling on since the start of the year.

The murders occured before

a meeting supposed to have been held on May 15 to solve the

dispute.

Victims Pech In and Sok Suoy arrived early with two other men at

the meeting site, which lay between the two villages, Adhoc said in a

report.

They were reportedly met by two soldiers, one of whom demanded to

know who was planting rice on his land. According to Adhoc, Suoy said that if

they were guilty the crop should go to the rightful owner of the land.

At

this, one of the soldiers fired five times in the ground and when Suoy objected,

he and In were shot dead. The soldiers also fired at the two men with the

victims but they were able to escape.

Adhoc says the authorities have yet

to launch an official investigation into the killings.