Marching rights activists blocked at starting point

More than a hundred monks and rights activists marching to Phnom Penh for International Human Rights Day were blocked by soldiers and police at their starting point in Takeo province’s Kirivong district yesterday.

They claim authorities have said they will not be allowed to move onwards without permission from the Interior Ministry. They remained there yesterday evening and planned to sleep outside after having been barred from the local pagoda.

Local authorities could not be reached, but one police officer claimed on the condition of anonymity that the activists had not been blocked. He said police were simply trying to ensure they did not block roads and cause congestion.

http://www.phnompenhpost.com/post-weekend/marching-rights-activists-blocked-starting-point