Interior Ministry Releases Its Account of Monivong Bridge Clashes

Interior Minister Sar Kheng has chastised the opposition CNRP for holding its demonstration in Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park last week for longer than authorized, and blamed the party for the deadly violence that took place near Monivong Bridge. A 29-year-old construction worker was shot dead while sitting on his motorcycle near clashes that erupted between security forces and protestors in the area around the bridge. “The CNRP violated the law on peaceful demonstrations and an agreement made with City Hall by staging protests for three days and nights and marched in different places outside of Freedom Park, which strongly affected Phnom Penh’s order and public security until a destructive act occurred, destroying state and private properties, opposing police forces who were on duty,” Mr. Kheng said in a statement released Sunday. … CNRP spokesman Yim Sovann denied the party’s supporters had damaged any property. “It’s not true because we staged the demonstration peacefully,” he said. “We didn’t destroy any property.” …

Hul Reaksmey
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/interior-ministry-releases-its-account-of-monivong-bridge-clashes-42909/