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.