A big thumbs-down
A Phnom Penh municipal official said yesterday that they would investigate mounting complaints that authorities have been forcing the capital’s residents to thumbprint letters supporting the preliminary election results and promising not to join demonstrations. Residents in Daun Penh and Tuol Kork districts told the Post yesterday that they had been visited by local authorities during the past week and asked to sign the papers, while rights groups said they had heard of numerous such instances. Commune officials admitted that thousands had signed the petitions of support but insisted they had done so voluntarily. “I don’t know about this, and it’s not an instruction from the municipality because it’s not legal,” Phnom Penh municipality spokesman Long Dimanche said. “I will check with the local authorities about it.” In Daun Penh’s Srah Chak commune, an internet shop owner who has run her business from her home for years said she fears she will be hassled by authorities in the future after refusing to sign. “The authorities tried to get all eight members of my house who voted to thumbprint, but we all used excuses not to. Only my son agreed, because of our business,” said the 62-year-old woman, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I fear my clients who park their bikes outside will now get disturbance from the authorities.” …
