Thai soldiers arrested four Cambodian youths on Saturday for allegedly logging rosewood in Thailand’s Trat province, near the border with Battambang province, officials said on Sunday.
“Thai soldiers in black uniforms arrested the four Khmer youths because they crossed the border illegally in an attempt to log rosewood in Thai territory,” said Samlot district governor In Saorith.
Pich Vanna, chief of the Cambodia-Thailand border relations office, said that five Cambodians crossed the border, but one eluded arrest.
“The Thai soldiers took photographs with the wood and they sent them to us…to prove that our people really logged rosewood in their territory,” Mr. Vanna said, adding that he had instructed his deputy to negotiate their release.
Neth Sam Ath, deputy chief of the border relations office, named the four Cambodians as Un Pros, 23; Un Tim, 21; Lam Den, 18; and Phouk Lyhour, 14.
He said they were being detained at the military headquarters in Trat province and would be sent to the provincial police headquarters today.
