City Blames B Kak Protests On ‘Foreigners’
The Phnom Penh municipality defended itself for the first time this weekend against sustained criticism from rights groups over the jailing of 13 female protesters from Boeng Kak, blaming the backlash on the “insanity” of unnamed foreign provocateurs. SRP lawmakers, meanwhile, met with the women in prison yesterday and vowed to seek the U.S.’ help in securing their release. International and national human rights groups have accused the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of violating the women’s fair trial rights and doing the government’s bidding after a lightning-fast trial in which judges refused the defense’s requests to postpone the proceedings or allow defense witnesses to testify. The women were arrested two days earlier during a peaceful protest against CPP Senator Lao Meng Khin’s Boeng Kak real estate project, which has forced thousands of families out of their homes. …
