Tension on Thai-Cambodia border, one killed and seven captured

Tension on Thai-Cambodia border, one killed and seven captured

THA PHRAYA, Thailand (AFP): Thai rangers killed one Cambodian
and captured seven others, two of them government soldiers,
during skirmishes in this border district, a Thai border officer
said yesterday.

Some 30 Thai rangers were called in to disarm a band of
Cambodians who crossed Nong Samet checkpoint, several holding AK-
47 assault rifles in their hands, commander Col. Prayuth Chanocha
said.

Seven people were taken into custody two kilometers (1.2 mile)
inside Thai territory, but the Thais were then ambushed by
stragglers who opened fire, he said.

The Thais managed to drive off the attackers a half hour later
and found the body of one of them, according to Prayuth.

But within the hour, at least 20 more Cambodians, wearing what
appeared to be military fatigues, attacked at the same spot for
15 minutes and recovered the body, Prayuth said. No casualties
were reported.

The two Cambodians who were captured with assault rifles at
Nong Samet told military interrogators later they were soldiers
of Phnom Penh's Seventh Division, commanded by General Kho Sia,
Prayuth said.

The other five were civilians, he said, adding that he
believed the group had intended to rob Thais in this district or
to protect car thieves who have been smuggling vehicles back
across the border.

Early this month, one Thai ranger was critically wounded when
50 Cambodian bandits attempted to drive three trucks across the
border.

Prayuth said that the Thai-Cambodian Coordinating Office had
convened late yesterday to open talks on curbing the violence and
banditry along the border.