|
 The demonstration was in breach of a ban on public gatherings
imposed by the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen, who is enduring
one of the biggest challenges to his 28-year rule and mounting
criticism of bloody crackdowns on dissent.
Military police and guards working for Phnom Penh city authorities
chased down opposition-aligned protesters near the Information
Ministry, with police wielding batons and electric prods.
Journalists were among the wounded, according to Reuters witnesses.
The protest was against the ministry's refusal to grant a broadcast
license to a new television channel run by a staunch government
critic in a country where the broadcast media is accused of lacking
political independence.
The violence was the latest episode in a months-long political
crisis in Cambodia, which was for years racked by conflict but which
recently saw more than a decade of unprecedented growth and
stability.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has held some
of the biggest rallies the country has ever seen as part of its
campaign for a re-run of a July election it says it was rigged in
favor of Hun Sen's ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP).
CNRP has been joined by unions representing 350,000 garment factory
workers who held strikes last year over the government's refusal to
meet its demands for higher pay.
Five workers were killed on January 3 when security forces fired
live ammunition to quell a protest.
Military police spokesman Kheng Tito said the ongoing crackdown was
necessary to ensure public order. The ban on gatherings, he said,
would only be lifted when CNRP lawmakers ended their boycott of
parliament and worked with the ruling party to resolve the conflict.
[to top of second column] |
"SCARY AND WORRYING"
Police clashed on Sunday with anti-government protesters and garment
workers who were demanding the release of 23 people jailed for their
involvement in the recent strikes.
"These instances of violence happened one after another and it has
now become a very scary and worrying trend," said Chan Soveth, a
worker with the Adhoc human right group.
"Without talks between the CPP and CNRP, we're worried violent
crackdown will occur in the whole country," Chan Soveth said, adding
that some CNRP activities had been disrupted by CPP supporters in
several provinces.
The violence comes ahead of a U.N. human rights hearing on Cambodia
in Geneva, where CNRP leader Sam Rainsy and human rights groups will
seek support from member states to end the deadlock. Hun Sen has
refused to resign, allow an independent investigation into the
election, or hold another ballot.
"Since the beginning of 2014, respect for human rights in Cambodia — including the treatment of human rights defenders — has worsened
significantly to the point of crisis," the Licadho and Amnesty
International rights groups said on Sunday.
Yim Sovann, CNRP spokesman, said the party would stick to its
demands for a fresh election and electoral reforms.
"The situation has become worse, with crackdowns everywhere," he
said. "We don't know how the CPP wants to end this crisis."
(Editing by Martin Petty and Robert Birsel)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
reserved.] Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
 |
