Cambodia says Thai soldiers shoot dead 69 Cambodians illegally crossing border in 2013

Cambodia said Thursday that Thai soldiers shot and killed 69 Cambodians who were claimed to illegally cross the border between the two countries last year, up from 45 a year earlier. "There were 55 reported cases of shooting Cambodian illegal border crossers by Thai soldiers last year, killing 69 people," said Gen. Khieu Sopheak, secretary general of the Cambodian Ministry of Interior. "In addition, another 165 Cambodian illegal laborers had been imprisoned in Thailand last year," he said at the ministry's annual conference and a copy of his speech was posted on the ministry's website. Cambodia shares more than 800 km border with Thailand in the north and west. Frequently, Cambodian people have been arrested or shot dead by Thai soldiers when they attempt to illegally cross the border for either rosewood logging or jobs.