Six Cambodians were arrested on suspicion of trespassing by Lao soldiers on Wednesday near Stung Treng province and are being detained in Laos, authorities said yesterday.

Strung Treng deputy police chief Ek Sivandon said four men and two women were arrested after attempting to cross the border from Laos back into the Kingdom.

Laos is detaining an additional 14 Cambodians accused of illegally crossing the border this year, he said.

Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Koy Kuong said negotiations were under way to repatriate all 20.

“The Cambodian ambassador to Laos is cooperating with the Laos’ Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the spokesman said.

Senior investigator for Adhoc, Chan Soveth, said two Cambodians were shot dead by Lao authorities last year, after illegally crossing the border.

“Laos’ authority does not act ... in contrast to Thailand, which discriminates and fires brutally at Cambodians who trespass,” he said.