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| Unionists march in 2009 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the killing of union leader Chea Vichea. (Photo by: Heng Chivoan) |
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post
Phnom Penh municipal authorities have granted permission for unionists to hold a march through the city in memory of slain unionist Chea Vichea, though they have imposed restrictions on where and how the group can assemble.
In a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, Koeut Chhe, deputy chief of the municipal cabinet, said 250 members of the Free Trade Union would be permitted to participate in the march, but that they would not be permitted to carry banners make public statements.
According to a report of the meeting obtained today, Koeut Chhe also said the march would be barred from passing Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house near Independence Monument, and warned that the ceremony must not be used as a platform for FTU members to make political statements.
“If the participants do not respect the above conditions, the permit holder must be completely responsible before the law,” the report quoted Koeut Chhe as saying.
Unionists march each year to mark the gunning down of former FTU president Chea Vichea on January 22, 2004, at a newspaper stand near Phnom Penh’s Wat Lanka.
Though two men were arrested in connection with Chea Vichea’s killing, they were released in 2009 and rights activists have urged the government to track down those responsible.
Authorities have also moved to break up several planned screenings of Who Killed Chea Vichea?, a 2009 film directed by American Bradley Cox which explores the unionist’s killing.
According to the Kingdom’s law on Peaceful Demonstrations, passed in October 2009, public protests are restricted to crowds of fewer than 200 people and require at least three representatives to register their identification cards with local authorities at least five days prior to the protest.
Demonstrations are also banned after dark.
Koeut Chhe could not be reached for comment today.
But Chea Vichea’s brother and current FTU President Chea Mony strongly criticised the city’s preconditions.
He said that the FTU wrote to the authorities on January 10 not to ask permission, but only to inform them that the celebration would take place, describing the restrictions as an impingement on the freedom of assembly.
“The government has always restricted democrats. We are not killers,” he said. “If they do not allow the parade, I’ll still do it.”
Chea Mony also called upon politicians from other parties to participate in the ceremony.
He declared that if Prime Minister Hun Sen wanted them to avoid his villa, he should make the demand himself.
Human Rights Party President Kem Sokha said he planned to inform members of his party to join with the FTU during the march.
He added that the authorities’ restrictions were evidence that they were ill-prepared to provide security for the people.
“The right to freedom of expression cannot be banned except when [people] use violence and incitement,” he said.
“If the government refuses to allow the FTU to make statements, it appears to be seriously restricting the rights of the people.”
8 comments:
Chea Vichea may you be blissful.
i think they might've restrict due to blocking of traffic, public disturbances, etc, no so much their freedom of expression of what have you, really! political oppositions are too quick to emotionally reacted to anything type law enforcement in cambodia. i think people from anywhere should use their head in all of this for a change, instead of react and let their emotion gets the best of them, really! cambodia is not that bad, and of course, there are more to cambodia than just some poltical opposition minority group of people and so forth, you know! it's called life, ok! and life does go on with or without you, you know! so true in reality! wake up people, it's not the end of the world, ok! reform and make a difference, but use your head as well, ok! that's all!
Hey 1:11AM
You're such a frog, froggy. Stop barking and learn something meaningful in life, 'cause you see no light in your pathetic well. Your country is running way far behind the rests,including Vietnam who only got US to lift its embargo a year after UNTAC pour loaded of cash into the country. Any of you, Khmer, bought anything in Vietnam, invest? On the contrary, you and your life time slave, idiotic gov't, sold all sorts of lands, natural resources to them. So, it is you who should wake up from that world of ignorance. Dummy!
Mr. Chea Mony,
Next time you plan to have a march, make it useful, and try to plan well, way ahead of time, with all of those who lost their lands, opposition parties and whoever that want meaningful change to the current system. Give them some serious challenges to force for change, for freedom, liberties and a new direction that will allow democracy to flourish before they start making new laws to jail more people. Get people to flood the city - protest but peacefully...
don't forget o wear shoes and shirts, ok, no bare foot is allow anymore in cambodia, ok!
I wonder how Sopheap Chak feels about these unfortunate Khmer people who are struggling for their freedom of expression. They have to sacrifice their sweat and blood to make their living and have their voice heard.
Unlike many such as Sopeap Chak who can use her academic skill to work, make her living, earn her reputation as scholar and use the brain washed ideology to overlook these unfortunate beings, and undermine their effort in claiming their rights and equality.
I smell dog shit around here. Oh..my bad, it's a pack of Youn attempting to step on Khmer shit. Fucking dumb ass. Do Mai Cong Cac Viet mein.
how ah choy maray hun sen barking every day cambodia is frreedom fuck your asss hun sen youn are cammunist shit born out !ok?
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