City rejects May Day location + CNRP youths ‘to enter park’

[geovalin]

City rejects May Day location + CNRP youths to enter park

Phnom Penh municipal authorities has rejected a request from more than 10 unions to hold an International Labour Day event at Freedom Park on May 1, but the unionists have said that will not stop them from marking the occasion.

City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche said yesterday that authorities would not allow the unions to hold the event at Freedom Park the capitals designated protest space, which has been off limits to demonstrators since the government simultaneously cracked down on garment sector and opposition party protests in early January. He appealed to the groups to use their own offices instead.

We do not agree with their request to celebrate International Labour Day at Freedom Park, because there are many organisations and institutes that want to use that place as well that we have refused, Dimanche said, adding that the city had conveyed that message to unions in a meeting on Thursday.

We told them to do it at their own offices, a private place or their factories. But we will not allow them to do it at a public place and we have temporarily banned the use of Freedom Park, he said.

The unions request would now be passed on to the Ministry of Interior.

Yang Sophorn, president of the Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions, said yesterday, however, union leaders were standing firm on holding their event at the park.

We are still keeping our stance to do [this] at Freedom Park on International Labour Day, and our unions will have another meeting again before making a final decision, she said.

In previous years, labour unions had been allowed to celebrate the occasion at public places, including Freedom Park, Sophorn noted.

Our rights and freedoms are crumbling [at this time], because as we know, on previous occasions, the government has allowed us to do or [express] our rights at public places . . . But this year is very different, she said.

Pav Sina, president of the Collective Union of Movement of Workers, said yesterday that the unions had planned to march from Freedom Park to the headquarters of the Cambodian Peoples Party and Cambodia National Rescue Party, respectively.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/city-rejects-may-day-location

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CNRP youths to enter park

Mon, 28 April 2014

Alice Cuddy

More than 100 opposition supporters gathered in Phnom Penh yesterday morning for training in defending freedom ahead of a planned attempt to enter Freedom Park on Wednesday.

Opposition lawmaker-elect Mu Sochua, who has been forcibly removed from the park a number of times this month, led the training at the Cambodia National Rescue Party headquarters and said the exercise educated supporters in peaceful methods of conflict resolution.

We asked ourselves, What symbolises freedom to us at the moment? And the answer is Freedom Park. How do we express that? By all of us going to the park, she said. The methodology we were teaching is nonviolence, nonviolence, nonviolence.

The training session, Sochua said, included role play and a screening of a documentary. The group also discussed who will be responsible for taking photos and how women will be protected.

Sochua has been on a one-woman crusade this month to enter Freedom Park, which still has a ban on public gatherings in place.

Last Monday the last time she attempted to enter the park security forces attacked a peaceful crowd of supporters, journalists and NGO workers, injuring at least 10.

Today, Sochua and fellow CNRP lawmaker-elect Lim Kim-Ya, who was struck on the face by a guard during the melee, will file charges against Daun Penh District Deputy Governor Sok Penh Vuth, who they claim ordered the attacks.

Afterwards, Sochua says she will take footage of the violence to the diplomatic corps and European Union.

Penh Vuth could not be reached for comment.

Military police spokesman Kheng Tito said yesterday his officers will use force to force [the CNRP supporters] out if they gather without permission.

But despite the obvious risk of violence, Sochua said the supporters at yesterdays training share her goal.

The youths came to me; they feel inspired and say we are one. They are not coming to support me; they are coming because they support freedom.

One, speaking after yesterdays event, said he hopes to enter the park and speak peacefully on Wednesday. Its scary, but were not scared too much.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/cnrp-youths--enter-park