Cambodia lodges complaint against Thailand over border shooting

BANGKOK, February 29 (TNA) - The Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a letter of complaint to Thai Ambassador to Cambodia Sompong Sanguanbun, after Thai soldiers have allegedly killed at least seven Cambodian villagers who illegally crossed the border to log in Thailand. The letter said that the Cambodian government considers the intended shooting as a breach of an internationally-accepted humanitarian principle and a violation of the spirit of Point 77 of the Record of Discussion of the sixth meeting of the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation between Cambodia and Thailand in August, 2009 in Bangkok. The complaint letter added that in a case of illegal crossing the border or committing illegal act in the future, the Cambodian government requests Thailand's authorities concerned to avoid shooting, but to arrest perpetrators and proceed with legal action. Secretary of state at the Cambodian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Long Visalo said on Tuesday that the death toll is quite high compared to the whole 2011, when Thai border troops allegedly killed 12 Cambodian illegal loggers. According to the Cambodian authority, the latest alleged shootings happened on February 22, 2012 when Thai soldiers opened fire at the Cambodian villagers who crossed the border into Surin Province in Thailand's Northeast, killing three Cambodian men. (TNA)