Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Logger shot by Thai soldiers

Logger shot by Thai soldiers

Logger shot by Thai soldiers

An illegal logger was shot and badly injured yesterday morning by Thai soldiers after crossing the border from Preah Vihear province with six other Cambodians.

Police said the group of seven entered Thailand from Choam Ksan district’s Sra Em commune early Wednesday morning but were spotted by Thai soldiers who opened fire at them.

Sam Kuon, 26, from Keamony village in Kampong Speu province, was hit in the right buttock, according to Sra Em Deputy Police Chief Ouch Oeun.

“Thai soldiers fired four or five times and one Cambodian was hit in the right bottom,” Oeun said. “The others just ran for their lives and only two people brought the injured one back home.”

Sol Heang, 28, and Bun Roth, 30, brought Kuon to the hospital but then fled, according to Oeun.

Mork Bun Thorn, 35, a friend of Kuon’s, said his friend had entered Thailand to move timber hidden in the forest near the border when Thai soldiers spotted them.

“He tried to run until he reached Cambodian land and then he fell down,” Bun Thorn said. “If he hadn’t managed to reach Cambodia, he might be shot dead already.”

In years past, it was not uncommon for Thai authorities to shoot suspected Cambodian loggers crossing the border, prompting a series of sharply-worded diplomatic notes from Cambodia.

Those incidents have since tapered off: In 2013, 69 Cambodians were fatally shot by Thai soldiers. Last year, only two were.

Lor Chan, Adhoc’s provincial coordinator in Preah Vihear, said arrests of suspected illegal loggers continue to happen but have lessened in recent years.

MOST VIEWED

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • PM to open new Siem Reap int’l airport December 1

    Prime Minister Hun Manet and Chinese leaders would jointly participate in the official opening of the new Chinese-invested Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport on December 1. The airport symbolises a new page in the history of Cambodian aviation, which will be able to welcome long-distance flights to

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former

  • Minimum wage set at $204, after Sep 28 vote

    The minimum wage for factory workers in the garment, footwear and travel goods industries for 2024 has been decided at $204 per month, with the government contributing $2. Following several negotiation sessions, the tripartite talks reached an agreement during a September 28 vote, with 46 of 51 votes supporting the $202 figure.