Kratie Demonstration Area Sealed as Police Arrest Leaders
Authorities in Kratie province have denied entry to journalists and rights workers to the site of violent land clashes that led to the death of a teenage girl on Wednesday. Rights workers say they fear for the safety of villagers in Broma village, but police say they have arrested four leaders of demonstrations against a rubber concession in the area. Those arrested were Khat Sovann, 54, Pum Vannak, 53, Pon Soeurn, 34, and an unnamed fourth suspect. The men were being questioned by the provincial police Wednesday and are accused of seeking to set up an autonomous zone, said Chhoung Seanghak, Kratie’s police chief. The four suspects will be brought before the provincial court on Friday, he said. Police are seeking a fifth man, national police spokesman Khieu Sopheak said. He urged local rights organizations and other groups not to harbor him. ….
