A Cambodian man shot and seriously wounded by Thai soldiers while foraging along the borders

Monday, January 04, 2010
By Khmerization

A 25 year-old Cambodian man was shot and seriously injured on the left leg by Thai soldiers while he and 2 friends were foraging for wild vegetable and hunting animals on top of the mountains along the Khmer-Thai borders on 3rd January 2010, reports Radio Free Asia.

Phoeuth Phim was shot when he and friends went picking for wild vegetable and set up traps to catch animals on the mountain in Banteay Chmar commune in Thmor Puok district of Banteay Meanchey province.

Mrs. Chea Saroeun, mother of the victim, said her son and his friends were foraging and hunting inside Cambodian territories. "They shot him on the left leg. Everyday he always went to set up traps to catch wild animals and pick wild prich (a kind of wild vegetable) leaves for his wife to sell at the market. They (the Thai soldiers) are very cruel, they shot him even while he is inside Khmer territories. If they entered Thai territories then they deserved to be shot, but they were actually inside Khmer territories", she said.

Currently, Phoeuth Phim was sent for treatment at Cambodia-Japan Friendship Hospital in Mongkolborey district in Banteay Meanchey province. His two friends were unhurt.