Cambodia Protest Kicked Off

Cambodia  Protest Kicked Off

By Sou Sophornnara

Phnom Penh- An estimated more than 20000 people  from young to old rally on the Democratic Park in Phnom Penh on the morning of September 7, 2013  to protest against the result of  the national election last conducted two month. Another estimated 10000 people are on streets because they cannot manage to get into the park. The street around the park has been blocked of traffic jam as protesters continue to walk in. Three hundred monks are also among the protesters sitting in front of the demonstration stage.

Hundred of kind curious people keep bringing supplies such as bread, water, flower and other food to contribute the demonstration organizers.

In the shiny day, sweaty people, some is sitting and some standing, are waiting for the opposition leader Sam Rainsy to arrive at the scheme.

Most of protesters are from countryside. People who are not able to join the protest such as factory workers, businessmen and vendors in local market send money and supplies to support the demonstration.

A 40 year old man Neth Pot from Prey Veng province said he arrived in Phnom Penh this morning by motorbike. He could not manage to dress properly according the demonstration organizer dress code because police are controlling traveler from province to join the demonstration..

"I  did not take the bus and took my motorbike instead because police did not allow any bus to bring protester into the city," he said.

 Prey Veng is about 100 kilometer from Phnom Penh. Yesterday police started searching buses from provinces to Phnom Penh for weapon in order to protect security.

"I want the all protesters to walk across the city. It is no good to rally in one place as people will not see how strong we are," said Pot.

The government granted permission to the opposition party to hold the demonstration only in one place and limited the number of participant to only 10000 people. The government allows the demonstration to protest only four hours from 8:00-12:00 a.m.

"I want to walk to the main places in Phnom Penh so the information about our protest spread wider to all people in the city,"said Pot.

Opposition Leader Sam Rainsy said in all provinces, Islamic Mosk, Buddhist pagodas and churches, all people must wish for peace, far and free election in Cambodia.

"We wish Buddhist, angel of the thrown king…..and the late king to help Cambodia to have justice, freedom, human right respect…," Rainsy and protester chanted.

"We demand for the set up of coalition committee with the participation of national and international community and we ask UN to jointly investigate the irregularity in the election on 28 July 2013. The committee must find out and reveal the truth in the election to respect the voters' will.

Cambodia conducted national election in July 28, 2013. Preliminary result shows that Cambodian People's Party, the government ruling won 68 seats and the opposition party won 55 seats. The opposition party rejected the result saying that the National Election Committee cheated the results.
The Constitutional Council of Magistracy opened an investigation over the opposition allegation and found the NEC irregularities in many selected polling stations.
The protest called on the creation of neutral committee to investigate the irregularity in the election that the opposition says there are a lot of frauds made by the national election committee.
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September 7 Protest in Phnom Penh to demand for justice in the national election. Photos by Sou Sophornnara