Victims Describe Deadly Clash at Monivong Bridge
Victims of the violent clashes that broke out between security forces and stone-throwing youths in Phnom Penh on Sunday night recounted the event Monday, with some saying they sustained injuries while battling against riot police and others saying they were simply unfortunate commuters trapped in the middle. The first day of the opposition CNRP’s three-day demonstration ended late Sunday night with running skirmishes between young demonstrators and armed military and riot police in the area of Monivong Bridge, which left one man dead and several others injured. … Vou Vann, a 25-year-old man at the hospital, who had a large wound on the back of his head, admitted he was on the front line of fighting with police at the barricades along Monivong Bridge when he was knocked unconscious by an officer. … Vou Vann, a 25-year-old man at the hospital, who had a large wound on the back of his head, admitted he was on the front line of fighting with police at the barricades along Monivong Bridge when he was knocked unconscious by an officer. … Teav Veasna, 30, the brother of Teav Somnang, 28, who was shot in his lower right leg and was still in surgery at the hospital Monday afternoon to remove the bullet, said his young brother was not involved in the violence. “He went to join the demonstrations [at Freedom Park], and his job was to provide water to the demonstrators,” he said. Mr. Veasna explained that he was unsure what exactly his brother had been doing when he was shot, but that he thought the reaction from police to shoot live rounds in order to control the situation had been ruthless and highly disproportionate. … In Wat Chak Angre Krom—about 3 km south of Monivong Bridge along National Road 2—the family of Mao Chan, who was shot dead at the bridge late on Sunday night, gathered to say farewell to the 29-year-old construction worker. At the funeral, Meanchey district deputy governor By Nay donated 10,000,000 riel, or about $2,500, on behalf of the district and the Phnom Penh Municipality to Mao Sok Chan’s 28-year-old wife, Chiv Sokvy. “On behalf of authorities…we feel regret for the accident, which we did not want to happen and we did not want to see happen,” she said. … The U.N. Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Cambodia on Monday released a statement confirming they had “defuse[d] the tension” and helped transport the body to a hospital. At a press conference held at the National Assembly on Monday, Council of Ministers Secretary of State Prak Sokhon said that the Ministry of Interior would investigate the death of Mao Chan. “We don’t know whether this person was a demonstrator or not, but we will conduct an investigation to find the truth,” Mr. Sokhon said. The Permanent Command for Election Security, a body headed by Interior Minister Sar Kheng, released a statement Monday, placing all responsibility for the clashes on the CNRP. …
Mech Dara and Alex Willemyns
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/elections/victims-describe-deadly-clash-at-monivong-bridge-42503/
