A Cambodian man was shot by Thai soldiers after he and seven other men crossed the border to illegally log wood early Wednesday, police officials in Oddar Meanchey province said.
Thon Thoeun, 28, was injured when a bullet hit his left thigh, according to Im Sann, the chief of O’Russey village in Samraong city’s Konkriel commune, where the men live.
“Three men from the village went with other villagers to the Thai forest to seek luxury wood last night,” Mr. Sann said.
The Thai soldiers opened fire at about 3:30 a.m., he said, adding that while the seven other villagers are on the run, Mr. Thoeun is being treated for his injury in a Battambang provincial hospital.
“We went to meet with those villagers to find out more information, but they left their village,” said commune police chief Mao Samnang.
According to Srey Narin, the provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc, seven men have been shot and killed by Thai soldiers so far this year after having snuck across the border.
