Governor: Protesters Paid

[geovalin]

Phnom Penh Governor Pa Socheatvong accused land activists from the Boeung Kak, Borei Keila and Thmor Kol communities of political allegiance after their participation in recent Black Monday protests demanding the release of opposition politicians and officials from civil society. At a groundbreaking ceremony for a new road at the Royal University of Agriculture on Saturday, Mr. Socheatvong accused the land activists of being hired for political gain.

“Boeung Kak, Borei Keila and Thmor Kol community people are at every protest, not for their own community purposes, but for a political purpose, which they have been hired to protest for: Please turn to legal jobs and business. Please stop hiring them and let them find the right occupations,” Mr. Socheatvong said, addressing both the activists as well as any opposition forces hiring them. The Black Monday campaign was designed as a message to the international community that the human rights situation in the country is dangerously unstable, after four senior Adhoc officials, a UN official and National Election Committee deputy secretary-general Ny Chakrya were charged over their alleged involvement in the Kem Sokha sex scandal.

Participants in the protests have included members of civil society, monks and land activists as well as regular citizens. Boeung Kak land activist Song Srey Leap, a consistent Black Monday protester, denied the governor’s accusations of political bias, as well as his claims that activists were being bought. She and her fellow activists were simply expressing their rights to improve their country.

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/26039/governor--protesters-paid/

[bheard]

"Mr. Socheatvong accused the land activists of being hired for political gain."

Ummm, just a little hypocritical aren't we?

How did you get to the top of the heap?