A Cambodian national from Kandal province was shot dead Thursday by Thai soldiers while allegedly attempting to steal a motorbike across the border, officials and a rights group said Friday.
Heng Meng Y, 21, from Sa’ang district, was shot three times by Thai authorities at about 3 p.m. after attempting to steal the motorbike 1.5 km inside Thailand across the border from Oddar Meanchey province, according to Colonel Uch Kimny, border liaison chief at the O’Smach border checkpoint.
“We very often hold meetings with Thailand, requesting they arrest those who allegedly commit crimes on Thai land but Thai forces continue to shoot and kill,” he said. Sareth Sokrath, a close friend of Heng Meng Y, said that the victim spent much of his time in Oddar Meanchey province.
“I don’t know what he was doing on Thai soil, but it is very cruel shooting at him when he was unarmed,” said Mr. Sokrath, adding he was looking after the body of the victim at a pagoda in Oddar Meanchey province’s Samraong City.
