Thousands Join Opposition Rally in Phnom Penh
Thousands of opposition supporters made their way to Freedom Park in Phnom Penh on Wednesday morning to begin the first of a three-day demonstration designed to urge signatories of the Paris Peace Agreement to intervene in the country’s current political deadlock. Unlike at the previous protests conducted by the CNRP, the security presence around the capital was minimal and all major roads in the city center were open to traffic. … At 3 p.m., the CNRP will march 5,000 of its supporters to the U.N. Office of the High Commission for Human Rights to hand in a petition asking officials there to push the government to conduct an independent investigation into election irregularities. … At a press conference this morning, CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha outlined the purpose of the demonstration—an investigation into July’s election, binding electoral reform and government adherence to the promises within the Paris Peace Agreements, including guarantees of a liberal and multi-party democracy. … Addressing concerns by the government that opposition marches and demonstrations could get out of hand should crowds become too large, Mr. Rainsy said that the CNRP could guarantee that its supporters would not be the cause of violence. …
Colin Meyn and Simon Marks
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/thousands-join-opposition-rally-in-phnom-penh-45722/
