Cambodia has rejected Thai allegations of cross-border illegal logging and emphasised that the ongoing fatal shootings of Cambodians by Thai authorities will not improve bilateral ties between the two countries.

In a statement released on Tuesday, Cambodia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged that Cambodians occasionally illegally logged along border areas without knowing they were on Thai soil because the area was not demarcated with border pillars or barriers.

“Therefore, it is not a reason for extra-judicially killing these villagers who are also human beings, although not Thai citizens, because such action is not conducive to maintaining healthy bilateral ties between the two countries, and it is also a violation of universally recognised humanitarian principles and human rights,” the statement reads.

Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman, Thani Thongphakdi, said Cambodia should admit that its people are illegally felling rosewood in border areas for the sake of preserving healthy bilateral ties, the Bangkok Post reported Monday.

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