Thailand Returns 6 Cambodians, Including One Deceased and One Seriously Injured

In the Kamrieng district of Battambang province, along the Cambodian border, Thai authorities have handed over six Cambodian nationals to the Cambodian side. Among them was the body of one individual and a young man who had sustained a severe head injury. The repatriation occurred around noon on September 19, through two separate border crossings. Initially, Thai soldiers facilitated the crossing of five Cambodians over the border river, which included the body of a woman. Approximately thirty minutes later, Thai authorities, via a different crossing point, handed over an additional Cambodian national, a young man with serious head wounds. The Thai side had informed Cambodian authorities that the five individuals to be returned included two women and two young children. However, the group actually comprised one deceased woman. According to sources, the deceased woman was identified as Wes Chandip, 23, from Angkor Chum district, Siem Reap province. She had been receiving treatment for an illness at a hospital in Thailand, but her family was unable to afford the approximately 500,000 Thai baht medical expenses. Consequently, her body and accompanying family members were repatriated to their home country. Separately, in the second case, a 24-year-old man named Rit Samnang, from O'Pong Moan village, Takram commune, Banan district, Battambang province, was handed over with severe injuries to his face and head. Thai authorities stated that this individual's injuries were the result of a traffic accident. However, Cambodian authorities remain unclear about the exact causes behind the repatriation of these Cambodian nationals, particularly concerning the deceased and injured individuals. The explanations provided by the Thai side are unilateral statements made to Cambodian officials upon their arrival to receive the returnees. As of now, no definitive information has been obtained from the Cambodian side. Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer