Two men were shot and wounded by Thai soldiers after illegally crossing the Preah Vihear province border to log rosewood last week, while the bodies of three people killed in December and January after crossing the border in Oddar Meanchey province were repatriated, according to human rights groups and soldiers.
The two injured men, Vong Vesna, 24, and Nou Samy, 44, were shot through the hand and stomach, respectively, after crossing the border on Saturday night, said Lor Chan, Preah Vihear provincial coordinator for rights group Adhoc.
The two were released from hospital and returned to their homes in Kratie province and another one in Choam Ksan district, Preah Vihear province the following day.
The bodies of three men were repatriated on February 5 via the O’Smach international checkpoint in Oddar Meanchey province, and only one has been identified, according to captain Lam Sam Roeun, who is stationed at the checkpoint.
One of the three, Min Chhord, 32, was part of a group of nine who crossed the border looking for rosewood on December 27. Min Chhord was shot in the head, according to Srey Naren, Adhoc’s Oddar Meanchey provincial coordinator.
Police are trying to identify the other two bodies, said Mr. Naren, who added that 38 Cambodians were killed by Thai soldiers in 2013 after crossing the border to hunt for rosewood.
