Public Statement on Human Rights abuse by Thai soldiers

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Phnom Penh, February 22 , 2010 - The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) condemns the actions of Thai soldiers who continue shooting Cambodian civilians who go to cut trees and walk in the forest along the Cambodian-Thai border. According to the news and ADHOC's 2009 report, over 20 Cambodian civilians, one as young as 6 years old, were shot to death by Thai soldiers over the last two years. The reason given for these shootings was that the victims were illegally crossing the border and performing illegal logging in Thailand. With all these cases, the Thai Government never took legal action to investigate or punish the perpetrators. Thailand is a party to some international conventions such as the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading
Treatment or Punishment and the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights, and should therefore respect its engagements. Thai soldiers have no right to kill Cambodian civilians who cross into Thailand. If Cambodians enter the Thai territory illegally, they should be punished by the Thai National Law, not through arbitrary executions. These very serious human rights violations committed by Thai state agents are still going on to this day. The Government of Thailand keeps ignoring the abuse committed by its own military. The actions taken by Thai soldiers and the inaction of the Thai Government are considered violations of articles 6, 7, 9 and 24 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. ADHOC would like to request the Thai Government to please take immediate legal action and thoroughly investigate these serious cases to find the perpetrators and redress the situation. We also would like to encourage the Cambodian Government to peacefully push the Thai Government to take action in this matter. ADHOC