Violent Mob, Police Attack Peaceful Protesters
Riot police and groups of men in plain clothes armed with sticks, Tasers and slingshots violently attacked a group of anti-eviction protesters conducting a hunger strike at Wat Phnom late last night, injuring several people. Protesters from Phnom Penh’s Boeng Kak community began the hunger strike Sunday morning against a decision by the government to convene the opening session of the National Assembly despite contested election results. But shortly before 11 p.m., riot police and men with no uniform—some wearing face masks—stormed the group, which was already leaving the area to go home, according to witnesses. … The violence comes as King Norodom Sihamoni is scheduled to open the National Assembly today. Civil society groups and hundreds of monks have lobbied King Sihamoni over the past week not to open parliament until leaders of the country’s ruling and opposition parties have reached a solution to breach the present political deadlock. …
Simon Marks and Kevin Doyle
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/violent-mob-police-attack-peaceful-protesters-42892/
