Nascent Group Holds First Protest

By Chiep Mony, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
16 May 2008

Click here to listen to the program in Khmer

The Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association, or IDEA, held its first protest as an organization Friday, gathering villagers near the Thai border to demand the lower cost of goods and fuel.

It did not go smoothly.

Police surrounded about 100 protesters in Banteay Meanchey province’s Poipet commune, preventing them from amassing an expected 500 supporters of tuk-tuk drivers, cart-pullers, porters and shop vendors, IDEA Director Von Pov said.

The protesters had planned a 1 kilometer march, he said. They managed only 200 meters. They’d planned to use loudspeakers, but were not allowed.

Banteay Meanchey Police Chief Hun Hean said the group was protesting without permission—a claim Von Pov denies.

“We prohibited,” the police chief said, but we did not pressure their freedom of expression. We just guaranteed traffic safety for the people, vendors and tourists.”

Adhoc rights investigator Sum Chankea called the police action a stifling of free expression.

Poipet workers are called to demonstrate

15 May 2008
Pen Bona
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Luc Sâr

The Cambodian organization “Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDIEA)” called on Poipet residents to hold a demonstration on Friday 16 May, to protest against inflation and corruption. According to a communiqué distributed by IDIEA on Thursday 15 May, 500 people (motodops, merchants, taxi drivers…) are expected to join the demonstration.

“Besides the increase of the cost of living, workers and small merchants of this border zone must pay custom officers, police officers to cross the border,” Vun Pov, IDIEA president, denounced. “This swindling brings heavy burden of these poor people’s living conditions.”

On Wednesday 14 May, an IDIEA representative in Poipet was arrested by the authorities while he was distributing leaflets calling the residents to join the demonstration on Friday. He was released 3 hours later, following long negotiations. “He was accused of not informing the authorities and he was asked not to distribute leaflets anymore,” Vun Pov said. “In spite of the threats issued by the authorities, the demonstration will be held,” he added. He explained also that the authorities were informed about the demonstration, but they refused to give the OK. According to IDIEA’s president, the demonstrators are ready to confront to the police forces if necessary.