Daun Penh Authorities Deny Involvement in Wat Phnom Attack

Some 50 members of the Boeng Kak and Borei Keila communities—many still bearing welts and bruises—walked to Phnom Penh’s Daun Penh district offices Tuesday and blamed officials there for a violent attack that broke out at Wat Phnom on Sunday night as they were peacefully protesting. Officials from Daun Penh district on Tuesday categorically denied any involvement in the violent attack. Late Sunday night, police and masked, plainclothes men armed with batons, electric prods and slingshots attacked a group of about 30 mostly female anti-eviction activists conducting a hunger strike to protest contested election results, then turned their weapons on rights workers and journalists. “Our authorities were not involved in this incident,” said deputy district governor Chhim Dina. “We know nothing about the violence.” … In a joint statement Tuesday, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and three other rights groups decried the government’s recent use of “excessive force” against peaceful demonstrators, citing the Wat Phnom attack as an example. The U.S. Embassy has called the incident “disturbing.” “We felt isolated when we didn’t hear any reaction from the CNRP,” Ms. Vanny said. “Why did they not produce a statement or response about the incident, as we were seeking electoral justice and transparency through our hunger strike?” she said. CNRP chief whip Son Chhay said that while he deeply regretted the incident Sunday, his party has been distracted by other matters. “We have so many serious is­sues in front of us regarding to the CPP illegally [convening] parliament and other stuff,” Mr. Chhay said. …

 Mech Dara and Ben Woods
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/daun-penh-authorities-deny-involvement-in-wat-phnom-attack-43143/