Protesters and a Military Show

While Prime Minister Hun Sen’s bodyguard unit celebrated its 8th anniversary with a lavish military parade and continued to denounce any protests as an attempt at fomenting a so-called “color revolution,” police in Phnom Penh broke up a demonstration by almost 100 balloon-wielding land-rights campaigners outside Prey Sar prison, arresting six protesters and four balloon sellers.   The group had attempted to gather outside Prey Sar’s CC2 complex in Dangkor district – which houses female prisoners – at about 9am, calling for the release of jailed human rights defenders including Boeung Kak lake community representative Tep Vanny.
 

Chim Sitha, the Dangkor district police chief, said the four balloon sellers had been released by midday, three hours later, after determining they had not been involved in the protest, while the six females arrested were yet to be released, but that would happen after appropriate “instruction” from police. He refused to comment on why they were arrested, referring questions to Nut Puth Dara, the district governor, who also refused to comment, as did Khoun Sreng, Phnom Penh’s deputy governor.  
 

The six women include Yeay Mamy, from the Boeung Kak lake community, and five from Thmor Kol community. Am Sam Ath, a technical coordinator for local rights group Licadho, said the arrests were simply an effort by authorities to restrict freedom of expression.

read more http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/29335/protesters-and-a-military-show/

 

-- © Copyright Khmer Times 05/09