Police will not ‘be as strict’

The roads surrounding In­dependence Monument will once again be blocked off as a planned three-day opposition rally kicks off this morning, but military police maintained yesterday that they will not be as tightly enforced as they were when frustration over delays erupted into violence last month.

National Military Police spokesman Kheng Tito said that while security forces will be deployed, Phnom Penh Municipal Military Police had been instructed to be more accommodating and not discriminate against the opposition. …

City Hall spokesman Long Dimanche was quick, however, to lay the onus for security on the opposition, saying that while the government’s position had seemingly softened with its decision to allow 1,000 demonstrators to deliver petitions to embassies, the CNRP would be expected to abide by other strictures, including a 10,000-person limit at Freedom Park and a 6pm curfew for the event. …

John Muller, of the private security firm Global Security Solutions, said “keep[ing] the public informed” is the best way to prevent frustrations from boiling over, as they did on September 15, when commuter Mao Sok Chan was shot dead by police during a traffic jam caused by barricades on the Monivong Bridge. …

 Vong Sokheng and Stuart White
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/police-will-not-%E2%80%98be-strict%E2%80%99