Rong Chhun denounces the lack of freedom of expression. . @P. S.Cambodge Soir
18-08-2008
Only two people showed up at the demonstration on Sunday 17th of August, in front of the former National Assembly. Chea Mony, representative of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) and Rong Chhun, president of the Independent Teacher’s Association (ITA) arrived around 6.30am, preceded by a high number of police forces.
Both representatives denounced the blockade on the road of Phnom Penh “of about one hundred workers who came to demonstrate”, called for by the Cambodian Union Confederation. The CUF, composed of the ITA and the FTUWKC, had the intention to protest against the intrusion of Thai soldiers in Cambodia, who, until the day before, were still stationed on the site of the Preah Vihear temple.
Forbidden by Phnom Penh on Friday, the demonstration was finally upheld.
“We ask the Thais to respect the conventions [which designate the borders of the country]”, explained Chea Mony and Rong Chhun amongst about thirty journalists.
If, according to them, their demonstration is “non-violent and not directed against the government”, they nevertheless didn’t hesitate to criticise the position of Cambodia. “I don’t think that the discussions [held between both countries, scheduled for Monday 18th of August] will have any results, said Chea Mony. Why should we have to negotiate with the Thais while they’re the ones who invaded our territory? We should have filed a direct complaint with Unesco.” Moreover, he added, the withdrawal of troops last Saturday should have only been done by Thailand. “Why should Cambodians have to pull out?”
For what concerns Touch Naroth, Phnom Penh Police Chief, the demonstration had been forbidden in order to avoid events like the ones in 2003, when the Thai embassy had been destroyed. “The compensations were heavy for our government”, he declared.
“It’s unfair. We are Khmer and we only want to show our love for the country, answered Rong Chhun. Instead of forbidding us to demonstrate, the authorities should have joined us.” And threatening: “The protecting spirit of Preah Vihear will condemn them.”
The CUF wished to start from the former National Assembly and reach the Thai embassy in order to bring a petition signed by its members. Its two representatives renounced their actions because of the deployment of police forces and went back to the FTUWKC headquarters.
There, police forces were waiting for them as well. The police, armed with batons and shields, were stationed in front of the building. Facing them, the militants were gathered in the courtyard and on the sidewalk. Above them, a signboard said: “The Cambodian Government has to ask for UN intervention”
The police forces didn’t prevent Rong Chhun, who was holding a Cambodian flag, to pronounce his speech. He denounced the confiscation of posters in particular. “The freedom of expression went back to zero. This shows a very bad start of the new government. It represses its compatriots, but not “the Siam thieves”, did he declare over the microphone before the group scattered around 8.45am.
18-08-2008
Only two people showed up at the demonstration on Sunday 17th of August, in front of the former National Assembly. Chea Mony, representative of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) and Rong Chhun, president of the Independent Teacher’s Association (ITA) arrived around 6.30am, preceded by a high number of police forces.
Both representatives denounced the blockade on the road of Phnom Penh “of about one hundred workers who came to demonstrate”, called for by the Cambodian Union Confederation. The CUF, composed of the ITA and the FTUWKC, had the intention to protest against the intrusion of Thai soldiers in Cambodia, who, until the day before, were still stationed on the site of the Preah Vihear temple.
Forbidden by Phnom Penh on Friday, the demonstration was finally upheld.
“We ask the Thais to respect the conventions [which designate the borders of the country]”, explained Chea Mony and Rong Chhun amongst about thirty journalists.
If, according to them, their demonstration is “non-violent and not directed against the government”, they nevertheless didn’t hesitate to criticise the position of Cambodia. “I don’t think that the discussions [held between both countries, scheduled for Monday 18th of August] will have any results, said Chea Mony. Why should we have to negotiate with the Thais while they’re the ones who invaded our territory? We should have filed a direct complaint with Unesco.” Moreover, he added, the withdrawal of troops last Saturday should have only been done by Thailand. “Why should Cambodians have to pull out?”
For what concerns Touch Naroth, Phnom Penh Police Chief, the demonstration had been forbidden in order to avoid events like the ones in 2003, when the Thai embassy had been destroyed. “The compensations were heavy for our government”, he declared.
“It’s unfair. We are Khmer and we only want to show our love for the country, answered Rong Chhun. Instead of forbidding us to demonstrate, the authorities should have joined us.” And threatening: “The protecting spirit of Preah Vihear will condemn them.”
The CUF wished to start from the former National Assembly and reach the Thai embassy in order to bring a petition signed by its members. Its two representatives renounced their actions because of the deployment of police forces and went back to the FTUWKC headquarters.
There, police forces were waiting for them as well. The police, armed with batons and shields, were stationed in front of the building. Facing them, the militants were gathered in the courtyard and on the sidewalk. Above them, a signboard said: “The Cambodian Government has to ask for UN intervention”
The police forces didn’t prevent Rong Chhun, who was holding a Cambodian flag, to pronounce his speech. He denounced the confiscation of posters in particular. “The freedom of expression went back to zero. This shows a very bad start of the new government. It represses its compatriots, but not “the Siam thieves”, did he declare over the microphone before the group scattered around 8.45am.
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