The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has learned that a Thai paramilitary unit allegedly opened fire on a party of six Cambodians gathering rattan liana in the forest on the border of the two countries this December 12, killing one and wounding another. Forestry officials in Thailand had reportedly called the unit to hunt for illegal loggers. No action is known to have followed to investigate or take action against the accused.

CASE DETAILS:

According to a Cambodian border official, on 12 December 2007, six villagers from Choeung Phnom village in Trapeang Prey commune, Anlong Veng district of Ouddar Meanchey province--which borders Thailand--went into the Dangrek Mountains to gather rattan liana. They were using a motorized trailer for their journey and for the transportation of rattan.

According to one of the survivors of the attack, 24-year-old Khem Sokheim, around 3pm they reached a place called Choah, some 15 kilometres from their homes at Chrok Choam Sro-Ngam pass, when they encountered a group of between 10 to 15 Thai troops in black uniforms who allegedly immediately opened fire, killing Yim Phat, 42, and wounding Khem in his right shoulder. He and the others fled for their lives.

Around 7:30am the next day a Cambodian police search team found the corpse and also the motorized trailer, which had been incinerated, at GPS coordinates: X0409159, Y1588615. The spot is in remote forest and not clearly marked on the ground as part of Thailand or Cambodia. In the past, Cambodian villagers had gone to gather forest products without any incident.

Yim Phat was hit by a bullet fired from an M16 assault rifle. From the blood trail, he had run about 50 metres before he fell down and died. The bullet hit his right forearm and pierced his chest below his right armpit and was lodged in the left side of his chest.

According to a December 16 report in the Bangkok-based Siam Rath newspaper, Samran Rakchart, a deputy director of the National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department, his department had called Ranger Unit 959, based in Sisaket Province, into the area after finding evidence of illegal logging. The unit had encountered five persons speaking in Khmer, three in plain clothes and two with Cambodian army-style clothing, and had called for them to stop and be searched but instead there was a five minute firefight and then the five went back into Cambodia. The rangers found blood stains and cartridges on the site afterwards, the newspaper reported.

Cambodian officials have also identified Ranger Unit 959 as responsible.
 
Yim Phat's widow, Ya Hoeun, 38, has been left with seven children. She has requested compensation of 100,000 Thai baht or 10 million Cambodian riels (USD 2500) for the death of her husband.

So far there is no information concerning any redress for the victims, their families, or investigation into the incident. This is even though there is a bilateral agreement between the two provinces of Sisaket and Ouddar Meanchey that persons from one found violating the laws in the other should not be shot.

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:

The Rangers are a paramilitary force that is often stationed in border areas and parts of Thailand considered hot spots. They have been accused of a range of gross human rights abuses, most recently in the southern provinces, and are less trained and perceived as being less disciplined than ordinary troops. See for instance:

UA-237-2007: Alleged torture and death in custody

UA-030-2007: Raid on village under martial law

UA-111-2006: Killing of a teenage boy and attack on a school

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please send your letters to the authorities listed below to call for a thorough investigation into the incident, for legal action against the alleged perpetrators if they are found to have fired without warning or due regard for life, and for appropriate compensation for the family of the deceased and also for the wounded man.

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