Armed Security Doubled for Human Rights Day Rallies
The government will deploy double the usual number of armed security personnel on the streets of Phnom Penh on Tuesday to keep control of the large number of rallies planned in the city to celebrate International Human Rights Day, a military police official said Monday. “We have [extra] forces for such events. It means that if on a normal day we have 100 armed men, on these extraordinary days—during political events or the like—we’ll increase the force…50 percent or 100 percent,” said Brigadier General Kheng Tito, spokesman for the national military police. Brig. Gen. Tito added that the deployment of the extra personnel, from outside of Phnom Penh, would be focused on the areas of the city where today’s rallies will be held, such as Koh Pich, Freedom Park and Olympic Stadium. At least 100 troops from Prime Minister Hun Sen’s personal bodyguard unit (PMBU) also set up base at Chaktomuk Conference Hall on Monday. … Asked why troops from the prime minister’s bodyguard unit had been brought into Phnom Penh ahead of human rights day rallies, Brig. Gen. Tito said that the PMBU is regularly called upon to provide support during large events. “Whenever events take place, they always come to help. They are additional forces to help ensure security,” he said. … The CNRP also plans to hold a rally and march through Siem Reap City in the afternoon, with the party insisting it will march to Angkor Wat. Provincial authorities have said the party will not be allowed to do so. Siem Reap’s deputy provincial police chief Kann Sambath said that extra forces would also be deployed in the tourist hub to manage the CNRP’s first post-election protest in the province. “For such an event, there will be more people than usual, so for example we will increase the police from 100 to 200 people to help ease traffic flow and ensure that no bad things happen,” Mr. Sambath said.
Phorn Bopha
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/armed-security-doubled-for-human-rights-day-rallies-48954/
