Checkpoints Encircle City Ahead of Demonstration
Security forces started searching vehicles entering Phnom Penh along all major roads Thursday morning in advance of a mass demonstration planned by the opposition CNRP for Saturday. The CNRP called the checkpoints an illegal and futile attempt to stop its supporters from attending the mass meeting. Phnom Penh municipality spokesman Long Dimanche said city officials issued an order to all district governors last week to start searching vehicles for weapons, ammunition and explosives, but not to stop protesters from entering the capital. “We do this not only for the demonstration but also to protect the people as a whole,” Mr. Dimanche said. “We are concerned that ill-intended people or opportunists who pretend to take part in the demonstration may cause trouble.” And although the checkpoints were set up only yesterday, Mr. Dimanche sought to downplay the search order and declined to say how long it would stay in effect. “These checkpoints are normal and not special for today. We just do it to protect the people,” he said. Government officials have for weeks warned that the opposition’s demonstration could turn violent and level accusations that the CNRP was harboring terrorist infiltrators, a claim the opposition has strenuously denied. … For its part, the CNRP has consistently called for their demonstration—against the government’s refusal to agree to an independent investigation of the July 28 national election results, which remains marred by widespread reports of irregularities—to be peaceful. …
Hul Reaksmey and Zsombor Peter
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/checkpoints-encircle-city-ahead-of-demonstration-41816/
