March proceeds peacefully
Taking a markedly different approach from Monday’s violent breakup of a peaceful demonstration at Freedom Park, authorities yesterday stood back as about 100 activists marched around central Phnom Penh, delivering a petition to embassies and the United Nations. District security guards and riot police initially seemed ready to crack down on the group after they delivered the petition to the Singaporean embassy, blocking marchers on Street 51 and warning them over a loudspeaker to clear out or face the baton and Taser-wielding authorities’ wrath. The petition calls for the release of 23 detainees arrested at protests earlier this month and an investigation into a police shooting that killed at least four. ... But after a brief negotiation between march leaders and police, authorities allowed the group to continue, on the condition they travelled on motorbikes and tuk-tuks, so as not to disturb traffic. ... A total of 197 rights groups, civil society organisations and others have signed the petition distributed yesterday. Signatories include some of the nine union groups that led a national garment workers’ strike at the end of December. ...
Sean Teehan and Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/march-proceeds-peacefully
