Breaking News Saturday - troops crackdown on vigil for slain protestors

[Sheryl]

RT @doyle_kevin 2:50 PM 100s of battlefield troops stationed on Veng Sreng Street. Spotted jeep with light machine gun mounted in the back. Martial law obviously

RT @doyle_kevin 3: 17 PM Main troop force in Veng Sreng is Brigade 70-closely associated with PM Hun Sen's security, personal bodyguard unit pic.twitter.com/XIB0juqj5M

[Sheryl]

RT @doyle_kevin 3:01 PM Policing Cambodia's rebellious garment factory workers. Something to think about when next in GAP store pic.twitter.com/mctxBxYLfW

RT @doyle_kevin 3:20 PM Spoke with garment factory strikers, said the are returning to home provinces because they fear further military repression after clashes

RT @Nico_Agostini 3:35 PM So in order to save #Cambodia's garment industry Hun Sen destroyed it. Well done. #MW160KH #politicskh

[Gettingaround]

But for every garment worker that goes back to their Province there will be two to take their place. There's no labour shortage here.

[Sheryl]

RT @instupor 3:49 PM Too many people have spontaneously gathered on my street, so dozens MPs armed w automatics now marching through again. RCAF humvees follow

[Sheryl]

RT ‏@chadlaca 3:49 PM CNRP's Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha meeting with members of international community in "a safe place," says lawmaker-elect Mu Sochua

[Sheryl]

RT @cambodiadaily 3:53 PM UPDATE: Battlefield troops patrolling streets in Pur Senchey district with jeeps mounted with light machine guns http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/security-guards-police-clear-freedom-park-50086/ …

[Sheryl]

RT ‏@instupor 3:58 PM Forget freedom to protest or freedom of assembly, it seems Cambodians no longer even have freedom to stand on their corners.

‏RT @oudomnimith 3:57 PM #cambodia Favorite pass time activity of thugs and cops. pic.twitter.com/c72xgryxIs

[Sheryl]

RT @doyle_kevin 4:05 PM Troops of the Hun Sen Personal Bodyguard Unit (PMBU) deployed in streets around his residence in Phnom Penh.

RT @doyle_kevin 4:05 PM Military Police patrolling Freedom Park area in Chinese-made hummer-like vehicles. pic.twitter.com/ttkU9Tk71D

[Sheryl]

RT @doyle_kevin 4:26 PM China, China everywhere: Chinese helicopters and military police jeeps at Freedom Park, and Hun Sen bodyguards with Chinese Type 97a rifles

RT @instupor 4:30 PM Many people gathering on corner again and jeering/cheering as military helicopter flies over, low. Expecting break-up any moment now

[phuketrichard]

Rather than just post tweets use this and everyone can stay on top of things directly;

https://twitter.com/tweetcambodia

[Sheryl]

Heavy military presence in the city now and many streets blocked off esp. around Wat Phnom area.

[Sheryl]

Rather than just post tweets use this and everyone can stay on top of things directly;

https://twitter.com/tweetcambodia

I am not sure what you mean. The site you give just compiles tweets.

in any event I have my own feed of reliable sources.

If you do not find it useful, or have the time to follow this on twitter yourself, fine, don't read it. Soem posters who do not have the time for that find it of interest.

[Sheryl]

Major opposition rally scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled.

RT CNRP's Yim Sovann confirms no opposition protest tomorrow for fear of potential violence.

[Sheryl]

Statement issued by major human rights organizations in Cambodia:

Statement

Peaceful Protesters Expelled from Freedom Park as Military Mobilization Escalates
Joint Organizations

January 4, 2014 - This morning state forces put a violent end to CNRP supporters’ long-standing occupation of Freedom Park, also known as Democracy Plaza, an area in central Phnom Penh specifically designated for protest.

This action follows two days of violence, which included the shooting yesterday at the Canadia industrial zone which left at least four civilians dead and dozens wounded.

The violence began at around 11.00 this morning when hundreds of police and military police blocked roads surrounding Freedom Park and rapidly and without warning moved in to clear the park of protesters. As they approached, the residing protesters, many of whom were monks or women with their children fled in fear leaving behind their belongings. The forces were accompanied by hundreds of thuggish civilians wearing red arm bands who used metre-long steel poles to beat and intimidate the peaceful protesters. Once the park was clear of people, they and the uniformed forces tore down the stage as well as temporary structures that had been built to provide shelter to protesters, destroyed a Buddhist shrine and wrecked audio equipment belonging to the CNRP.

LICADHO staff, as well as journalists and workers from other NGOS, who were attempting to document the events and provide help to protesters, were threatened by the thugs and prevented from entering the park while the destruction took place.

“We are dismayed by the continuing use of violence. After yesterday’s tragic deaths, we hoped that the government would begin to exercise restraint but their actions today show a complete disregard for the rights and indeed the lives of their own citizens” said Naly Pilorge.

Today’s action pre-empts a three-day vigil by the CNRP to mourn yesterday’s deaths which was widely-publicised to begin tomorrow. The opposition party has been holding regular demonstrations since the July general election, the result of which has been criticized by many observers. The latest occupation of the park began on 15th December and has been wholly peaceful but a letter issued today and signed by Pa Socheatvong, governor of Phnom Penh municipality, stated that tomorrow’s demonstration could not go ahead for reasons of public order and accused the CNRP of inciting factory workers to violence.

Additionally, during the day military forces were deployed at a number of points throughout the city, and stationed at Veng Sreng road where yesterday’s fatal shootings occurred. This unusual movement of military forces follows a Ministry of Defence statement issued yesterday which said that it would protect at all costs the results of the July 2013 general election and the government led by Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Moeun Tola, Head of CLEC’s labor program, commented “Today’s events reveal that contrary to international perception the Cambodian government has made no advance towards truly respecting human rights. Rather than embracing as a sign of progress, the democratic expression that has been flourishing in Cambodia in recent months the government is afraid of it and has suppressed it. Today is a very sad day.”

Finally, as the clearance of Freedom Park was taking place, rumours began to circulate that arrest warrants had been issued for leading CNRP members as well as unionists who have been involved in recent demonstrations calling for higher wages in the public sector and garment factories. So far these are unconfirmed but are being taken seriously by those named.

-- http://licadho-cambodia.org/pressrelease.php?perm=335

[Sheryl]

RT @cambodiadaily Dramatic video of Cambodian women being assaulted by shield-wielding riot police in #Cambodia #ppp https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWnf8CoxO2s …

[phuketrichard]

Rather than just post tweets use this and everyone can stay on top of things directly;

https://twitter.com/tweetcambodia

I am not sure what you mean. The site you give just compiles tweets.

in any event I have my own feed of reliable sources.

If you do not find it useful, or have the time to follow this on twitter yourself, fine, don't read it. Soem posters who do not have the time for that find it of interest.

all u are doing is re posting tweets.

whats not to understand

Its the same to follow on tweeter and more comprehensive that what YOU choose to re post,

seems we will NEVER see eye to eye an anything.

[Sheryl]

RT @instupor 6:07 PM another clearing out of edges of Freedom Park, much more violent - people running like hell away from riot MPs who look more baton-happy now

[Sheryl]

RT @chadlaca 6:08 PM CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha have been "invited" to appear for questioning at PP Municipal Court on January 14, per Mu Sochua.

[Sheryl]

@doyle_kevin 6:22 PM Many small groups of people gathering to angrily discuss today's violence in Phnom Penh by police. Anger palpable. pic.twitter.com/8SzFYlI291

[Sheryl]

RT @instupor:

7:00 PM Another mass clear out - saw a fleeing man nearly get run over.

7:06 PM they are chasing and beating particular individuals, charging them down on motorbikes and loading their guns

7:10 PM I heard one woman screaming as they moved in - don't know if she got beaten. Other MPs summoned group back. But as it gets later I expt wrs

7:24 PM And, as predicted, guess who is out now: the hired thugs in plainclothes and security uniforms (not police uni)

7:27 PM They jut tasered a photog outside my apt, hit him and grabbed his camera

7:29 PM Two colleagues came over and hustled him away. They are heading down toward river now and probably not so nice to non-media

[Sheryl]

RT @doyle_kevin 7:35 PM Military police baton charging groups of people near Phnom Penh night market. Now, dozens of civilian thugs from earlier today move in too

[Sheryl]

RT @deerpig 7:40 PM #cambodia army in full body armor just swept through park on st 108 near Wat Phnom, indiscriminately beating people up. Not a good day...

RT @instupor 7:44 PM Can't recognize him, but a photographer who appeared to be wearing a press pass was just attacked by gov't sec forces

[Sheryl]

Conflicting info as to whether tomorrow's demonstration will occur. Opposition leadership called it off but apparently many of the rank and file and still planning on it and passing the word. Likely to be a tense day.