Dear friends,
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.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear_________,
THAILAND/CAMBODIA: Thai paramilitaries allegedly kill one Cambodian villager and wound another
Names of victims: Yim Phat (42) (killed) and Khem Sokheim (24) (wounded), both of Chrok Choam Sro-Ngam pass, Trapeang Prey commune, Anlong Veng district, Ouddar Meanchey province, Cambodia
Alleged perpetrators: 10-15 personnel from Ranger Unit 959 based in Ophang-koe, Phusing district, Sisaket province, Thailand
Place of incident: Isolated site in Dangrek Mountain Range dividing Phu Sing district (Thailand) and Anlong Veng district (Cambodia); GPS coordinates given by Cambodian police as X0409159, Y1588615
Date of incident: 12 December 2007
I am writing to voice my deep concern that despite Thai paramilitary personnel having shot and killed and wounded Cambodian villagers on the border between their two countries this 12 December 2007, to date there are no reports of any joint investigation into the incident with a view to taking action against the alleged perpetrators and giving redress to the victims.
According to the information I have received, at around 3pm on December 12 the 10-15 personnel of Ranger Unit 959 encountered five villagers from Chrok Choam Sro-Ngam pass in the Dangrek forest. They allegedly opened fire without warning, after briefly shouting, killing Yim Phat with a shot to the chest and wounding Khem Sokheim in his right shoulder. The wounded man and other three fled. Their motorized trailer was later found incinerated.
Despite the Cambodian authorities having investigated the scene and a deputy director of the National Parks Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department of Thailand, Samran Rakchart, having talked with the media about the incident, there is no evidence of any joint investigation that may lead to the accused being charged with criminal offences or the victims and their families obtaining proper compensation for their losses.
I therefore call for a full inquiry into this incident in order that the necessary legal action is taken and proper redress is given in accordance with international standards.
I also take this opportunity to note that the paramilitary Rangers have on many other occasions been accused of reckless shooting and killing and wounding of civilians, both of neighbouring countries and of their own. I believe that this behaviour will not be addressed until such a time as the personnel responsible for such incidents are brought to justice and it is firmly understood among paramilitary forces in Thailand that it is not acceptable to shoot first and ask questions later.
Yours sincerely,
—————–
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. General Surayud Chulanont
Interim Prime Minister
c/o Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District
Bangkok 10300
THAILAND
Tel: +662 280 1404/ 3000
Fax: +662 282 8631/ 280 1589/ 629 8213
E-mail: spokesman@thaigov.go.th
2. General Sonthi Boonyaratglin
Interim Deputy Prime Minister
c/o Government House
Pitsanulok Road, Dusit District
Bangkok 10300
THAILAND
Tel: +662 280 1404/ 3000
Fax: +662 282 8631/ 280 1589/ 629 8213
E-mail: spokesman@thaigov.go.th
3. Mr. Nitya Pibulsonggram
Interim Minister of Foreign Affairs
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
443 Sri Ayudhya Road
Bangkok 10400
THAILAND
Fax: +662 643 5320
Tel: +662 643 5333
Email: ommfa@mfa.go.th or permsec@mfa.go.th
4. Mr. Charnchai Likitjitta
Interim Minister of Justice
Office of the Ministry of Justice
Ministry of Justice Building
22nd Floor Software Park Building,
Chaeng Wattana Road
Pakkred, Nonthaburi
Bangkok 11120
THAILAND
Tel: +662 502 6776/ 8223
Fax: +662 502 6699/ 6734 / 6884
E-mail: om@moj.go.th
5. Mr. Aree Wongaraya
Interim Minister of Interior
Office of the Ministry of Interior
Atsadang Road, Ratchabophit, Pranakorn
Bangkok 10200
THAILAND
Tel: +662 224-6320/ 6341
Fax: +662 226 4371/ 222 8866
E-mail: om@moi.go.th
6. Mr. Chaikasem Nitisiri
Attorney General
Office of the Attorney General
Lukmuang Building
Nahuppei Road
Prabraromrachawang, Pranakorn
Bangkok 10200
THAILAND
Tel: +662 224 1563/ 222 8121-30
Fax: +662 224 0162/ 1448/ 221 0858
E-mail: ag@ago.go.th or oag@ago.go.th
7. Professor Saneh Chamarik
Chairperson
The National Human Rights Commission of Thailand
422 Phya Thai Road
Pathum Wan District
Bangkok 10300
THAILAND
Tel: +662 2219 2980
Fax: +66 2 219 2940
E-mail: commission@nhrc.or.th
8. Mr. Samdech Hun Sen
Prime Minister
Cabinet of the Prime Minister
No. 38, Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855 2321 9898
Fax: +855 23 36 0666
E-mail: cabinet1b@camnet.com.kh
9. Mr. HOR Namhong
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Foreign Affairs
No.3, Samdech Hun Sen Street
Sangkat Tonle Bassac
Khan Chamcar Mon
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855- 23 214 441, 216 122
Fax: +855- 23 216 144, 216 141
E-mail: mfaicinfo@mfaic.gov.kh
10. Mr. Tea Banh
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of National Defence
Russian Federation Street
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Tel: +855-23 883184 / 428171
Fax: +855-23 883184
E-mail: info@mond.gov.kh
11. Mr. Sar Kheng
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister of Interior
No.275 Norodom Blvd
Phnom Penh
CAMBODIA
Fax/phone: +855 23 721 905 / 23 726 052 / 23 721 190
E-Mail: info@interior.gov.kh or moi@interior.gov.kh
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrchk.org)
