Supporters Pray for Mam Sonando’s Release

24 July 2012
The Cambodia Daily
Agricultural production / Agriculture and fishing / Civil society / Crime and law enforcement / Economic land concessions and plantations / Human rights / Judiciary and courts / Land / Land policy and administration / Land tenure and land titling / Law and judiciary / Public land lease / Social development
Association of Democrats / Beehive Radio owner / court / Democracy / freedom / Kandal Province / Khsach Kandal / kratie / Mam Sonando / NGO / prayer / Preah Ang Dang Keu shrine / protesters / Royal Palace / secessionist movement / Sonando supporters / Touch Vanna

More than a hundred supporters of imprisoned Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando gathered at the Preah Ang Dang Keu Shrine in front of the Royal Palace yesterday morning to offer prayers for his release. Sporting shirts printed with photos of Mr. Sonando, the group lit candles and incense before chanting a prayer calling for his freedom. Most of the protesters were members of Mr. Sonando’s Association of Democrats, an NGO that has been accused by the government of stoking a secessionist movement in Kratie. “I think that arresting Mam Sonando has an impact on other people who love democracy,” said Touch Vanna, 60, Khsach Kandal deputy district chief of the Association of Democrats in Kandal province. “I came to participate to pray at Preah Ang Dang Keu [to push the government] to release Mam Sonando…. He did not commit what the court charged him with.”…