The Associated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Activists and Buddhist monks led about 150 people in Cambodia as they began a two-week march on Wednesday to demand more freedom of expression.
A statement from organizers said more people were expected to join the 230-kilometer (145-mile) march from the capital, Phnom Penh, to Siem Reap province, home of the famed Angkor Wat temple complex — an ancient symbol of the Cambodian nation.
The organizers call themselves the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia, which includes the nongovernment group Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
"The door for exercising freedom is just narrowly open due to government restrictions, and we need to have it open wider for all the people," said the march's leader Kem Sokha, a well-known critic of the government.
He was among three human rights activists jailed for several weeks last year on criminal defamation charges filed by Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.
The marchers planned to stop at villages along the way and hold forums to discuss human rights issues with residents.
They are expected to arrive at Angkor Wat on March 15, the statement said.
On the eve of the march, police prevented 40 Buddhist monks from holding a peaceful protest near the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh.
The would-be demonstrators had wanted to air demands that Vietnam's government stop alleged repression of ethnic Cambodian monks living in southern Vietnam.
A statement from organizers said more people were expected to join the 230-kilometer (145-mile) march from the capital, Phnom Penh, to Siem Reap province, home of the famed Angkor Wat temple complex — an ancient symbol of the Cambodian nation.
The organizers call themselves the Alliance for Freedom of Expression in Cambodia, which includes the nongovernment group Cambodian Center for Human Rights.
"The door for exercising freedom is just narrowly open due to government restrictions, and we need to have it open wider for all the people," said the march's leader Kem Sokha, a well-known critic of the government.
He was among three human rights activists jailed for several weeks last year on criminal defamation charges filed by Prime Minister Hun Sen's government.
The marchers planned to stop at villages along the way and hold forums to discuss human rights issues with residents.
They are expected to arrive at Angkor Wat on March 15, the statement said.
On the eve of the march, police prevented 40 Buddhist monks from holding a peaceful protest near the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh.
The would-be demonstrators had wanted to air demands that Vietnam's government stop alleged repression of ethnic Cambodian monks living in southern Vietnam.
3 comments:
Kiev Kanharith is crazy that Cambodia has full freedom of expression, but he didn't elaborate the recent jailing of human rights activists, cracking down the peaceful demonstration of monks and no permission letter from PP's municipal to this march.
What Kanhariths said is right that "government can speak everything and swear everyone...the national media airs only government (cpp) propaganda.
He is a liar, a manipulator!
Arrkanchas kiev is an old fuck..!! He is liar bastard!!
Arrkanchas kiev is an old fuck..!! He is liar bastard!!
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