CNRP Assured of No Roadblocks During Demonstration
Opposition CNRP lawmaker-elect Mu Sochua last night emerged from a meeting with Phnom Penh City Hall representatives proclaiming that she had the assurance of the Municipal police chief that there would be no roadblocks in or around Phnom Penh during the opposition’s three-day demonstration starting today. “We had very positive results from our meeting with the municipality today,” Ms. Sochua said last night. “[Phnom Penh municipal police chief] Chuon Sovann gave us assurances that there would be no roadblocks to hinder the demonstration—not in the city or around.” “If roadblocks are set up,” she continued, “that will become the responsibility of the Ministry of Interior because we have the police chief’s word.” During the CNRP’s previous three days of demonstration in mid-September, barricades and razor-wire barricades blocking roads brought Phnom Penh’s four central districts to a near standstill. … Despite the assurances provided, local rights group Licadho was reporting on its website Tuesday afternoon that National Police and military police had set up security checkpoints on all six national roads leading into Phnom Penh. Brigadier General Kheng Tito, spokesman for the military police, said that the checkpoints were necessary to ensure the safety of citizens during the demonstration.
Khuon Narim and Matt Blomberg
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/cnrp-assured-of-no-roadblocks-during-demonstration-45698/
