Witnesses in Shooting Under Protection

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer Original report from Phnom Penh 08 July 2008

Two Cambodian witnesses to last week's border shooting are under protection at the office of Cambodia's counsel to Thailand's Sre Keo province, Foreign Minsiter Hor Namhong said Tuesday.

Both witnesses were members of a group attempting to cross the Thai border Thursday, officials said.

Other witnesses have described being shot at by a Thai border patrolman, resulting in the deaths of It On, 25, and Chea Phal, 6. Thai officials have denied the border patrol was involved, suspecting instead an encounter with human traffickers in a dangerous region.

One of the witnesses now under protection is a brother of victim It On, said Tim Sareth, deputy director of the Ministry of Interior's Cambodia-Thai coordination office, in Bantey Meanchey province.

The witnesses were moved from Thai police custody on Monday, said Net Sarey, counselor to Sre Keo, who is now looking after them.

The witnesses are under supervision, fed and protected, he told VOA Khmer Tuesday.

The two witnesses are cooperating with a Thai border police request for a sketch of the alleged shooter, Net Sarey said.