Boeng Kak Women March for Activist’s Release

More than 50 supporters of jailed anti-eviction activist Yorm Bopha marched through central Phnom Penh on Tuesday to demand her speedy retrial, acquittal and release, visiting the Supreme Court, the Royal Palace and the European Union and World Bank offices. … Ms. Bopha has consistently professed her innocence and is waiting for the Supreme Court to schedule her retrial. Bearing banners and waving the flags of some of Cambodia’s international donors, including Australia, Japan and the U.S., the protesters started out in front of the Supreme Court. From there, they marched to the Royal Palace to briefly pray for Ms. Bopha’s release and then back to the court before heading to the E.U. office. … Once in front of the E.U., the group blocked northbound traffic along Norodom Boulevard and waited in hopes of arranging a meeting with Ambassador Jean-Francois Cautain. But when an E.U. official informed them that the ambassador was out, they moved back to the World Bank, where they had slightly better luck. Ms. Bopha’s husband, Luos Sakhorn, her 9-year-old son, and Boeng Kak activist Tep Vanny were let in for a brief meeting. Afterward, Mr. Sakhorn said the representative promised to pass their requests up the chain. … In 2011, the World Bank froze all new funding to Cambodia in protest against the Boeng Kak evictions.

 Khy Sovuthy
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