Four protesters charged as lake clashes persist

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court yesterday charged four female Boeng Kak lake residents with insulting police and obstructing public officials during a protest that turned violent on Monday. Earlier in the day, dozens of residents were blocked by riot police from leaving the lake area, resulting in a second day of clashes with police. Kong Chantha, Bo Chhorvy, Heng Mom and Tep Vanny were arrested separately on Monday during a series of violent clashes with police outside City Hall on Monivong Boulevard. The protesting residents are demanding that 94 Boeng Kak lake families be included in a 12.44-hectare plot of land that Prime Minister Hun Sen said would be set aside for residents who are refusing to be evicted from the lake area. No reason has been given for the exclusion of the 94 families from the prime minister's deal...