Cambodian opposition leader Sam Rainsy claps his supports for the hundreds of demonstrators blocked by Phnom Penh authority riot police in down town Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Monday, May 1, 2006. A leading trade union leader was arrested Monday as thousands of police brought the capital to a virtual standstill during a government clampdown on unauthorized Labor Day demonstrations, Sam Rainsy said. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)Mon May 1, 2006
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Riot police broke up a peaceful Labor Day march in the Cambodian capital on Monday, drawing criticism from rights activists and the opposition who reject the official line that the dispersal was to prevent traffic jams.
Police armed with AK-47 rifles and electric batons chased protesters out of public parks in the center of Phnom Penh and used fire trucks to block garment workers from gathering outside the National Assembly.
"They should not disperse us just because we come to express our opinions over work conditions," said garment worker Sour Channy, 26, who is demanding a doubling of her $40-a-month pay.
The impoverished southeast Asian nation, which is still recovering from the Khmer Rouge genocide of the 1970s, is a fledgling democracy but long-term Prime Minister Hun Sen is often accused of autocracy and intolerance toward dissent.
The protest was the first since opposition leader Sam Rainsy's return from a year of self-imposed exile after he lost his parliamentary immunity. Several prominent rights activists were also briefly imprisoned at the start of the year.
International Labor Day is a public holiday in Cambodia, which was under communist Vietnamese occupation in the 1980s, but government officials said workers should not march on the streets in case they caused a public disturbance.
"They can gather in their factories or offices, but should not come out. We do not want passengers to miss their flights on the way to the airport," government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told Reuters.
Although no injuries were reported, Sam Rainsy said it was a sad reflection on the country.
"I regret this happened as it means Cambodia has no real democracy," he told a crowd of 600 workers at a stand-off with police.
Police armed with AK-47 rifles and electric batons chased protesters out of public parks in the center of Phnom Penh and used fire trucks to block garment workers from gathering outside the National Assembly.
"They should not disperse us just because we come to express our opinions over work conditions," said garment worker Sour Channy, 26, who is demanding a doubling of her $40-a-month pay.
The impoverished southeast Asian nation, which is still recovering from the Khmer Rouge genocide of the 1970s, is a fledgling democracy but long-term Prime Minister Hun Sen is often accused of autocracy and intolerance toward dissent.
The protest was the first since opposition leader Sam Rainsy's return from a year of self-imposed exile after he lost his parliamentary immunity. Several prominent rights activists were also briefly imprisoned at the start of the year.
International Labor Day is a public holiday in Cambodia, which was under communist Vietnamese occupation in the 1980s, but government officials said workers should not march on the streets in case they caused a public disturbance.
"They can gather in their factories or offices, but should not come out. We do not want passengers to miss their flights on the way to the airport," government spokesman Khieu Kanharith told Reuters.
Although no injuries were reported, Sam Rainsy said it was a sad reflection on the country.
"I regret this happened as it means Cambodia has no real democracy," he told a crowd of 600 workers at a stand-off with police.
2 comments:
WOW,spin doctor Kanharith...
I like to have what you had too man,you sounded so dumb and sold out.
Hope you paid your driver in cash otherwise you 'd better beef up your life vest man and stop drinking on the job.Doo mae mei
Here my man,Raingsy performed death to the tyrant dance with earphone plugged in ears linked to Ta Khmao fortress PC.
Xomdet,don't worry be easy I'm Raingsy here,Copy?
Raingsy who? Copy?
Copy! Raingsy your new do boy Xomdet euy! Choy duc euy doo mae a xamer xakaer youon buon cheung,copy?
Copy who? Vichea?No?Ho Sok? Roger Nhek Bun Chhay? Out Ta Khmao!
Hello Copy Ta Khamo,Raingsy command everything done as planned Copy???
Copy Chea Mony soon Chea Vichea copy! Raingsy Out 10-4
Ta Khmao copy out 10-7
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