Investigation Into Man Shot Dead During Protest Yields Nothing

A week after one man was shot dead and several others injured during a standoff between the armed forces and protesters, an investigation into who was responsible is no closer to conclusion, an Interior Ministry spokesman said Sunday. ... Security experts last week said the armed forces were undoubtedly at fault for the violence. “Deadly force is not an appropriate response to the use of non-deadly force (most rock throwing is considered non-deadly force),” Michael Scott, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School and expert in policing techniques, said in an email. ... Paul Townsend, a consultant for Crowd Dynamics—a British company that advises governments and event planners on mass movement safety—said shooting into the air is more likely to incite panic than calm. ... Mr. Townsend added that authorities should have informed the people beforehand of any barricades around the city and of the bridge being closed. ... Military police spokesman Brigadier General Kheng Tito defended the armed forces’ training. “But at some events we cannot avoid cracking down with heavy arms,” Brig. Gen. Tito said. “Such an incident is not predictable. We don’t want to see any deaths as a result of any clash between protesters and armed forces.” ...

Kuch Naren and Dene-Hern Chen
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/investigation-into-man-shot-dead-during-protest-yields-nothing-42911/