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Sunday, December 22, 2013
Messokche and Daniel Pye
phnom penh post
An estimated 100,000 opposition supporters took to the streets on Sunday, demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Hun Sen and new elections.
More than 100,000 demonstrators took to the streets of Phnom Penh yesterday, demanding new elections or the resignation of Prime Minister Hun Sen, in the largest show of support for the Cambodia National Rescue Party since opposition leader Sam Rainsy returned from self-exile in July.
“We will not stop protesting if our demands are not met,” CNRP vice chairman Kem Sokha told the crowd at Freedom Park before the march. “I call on everyone to adhere to non-violence during the rally.”
Estimates of how many people turned out for the march varied widely, with Rainsy writing on his Facebook page that “around 500,000 people” took part. “A political tsunami has been unleashed in Cambodia,” Rainsy told supporters before the rally began.
Even the government, which usually provides attendance figures for conservative opposition protests, acknowledged the scale of yesterday’s demonstrations.
Phnom Penh City Government spokesman Longdi Manche said an estimated 100,000 people took part in the march.
“We are looking at the people who attended the rally. We estimate that about 100,000 people took part in the demonstration, not the 500,000 claimed by the CNRP,” he said, adding that the “exaggerated” figure of 500,000 mainly included bystanders and people blocking the road.
Emotions ran high as rally participants left Freedom Park and headed south along the main thoroughfare, Monivong Boulevard, around 2:45 p.m.
More than 100,000 people were expected to take part in a demonstration in Phnom Penh on Sunday, with a supporter of the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party inciting the crowd.
After stagnation for more than an hour, the parade continued to move forward, turned right onto Mao Zedong Avenue, then headed north past the Olympic Stadium and returned to the park.
A protester dressed as Santa Claus held up a sign comparing Prime Minister Hun Sen to a Christmas turkey in a humorous mockery of those in power.
“I wish Hun Sen a happy Christmas and a rest from office,” he said.
Yesterday’s demonstration was attended by large numbers of monks, who have been increasingly spotted at post-election rallies. Cambodia’s Grand Patriarch Thak Vong has repeatedly warned monks that attending rallies could result in them being stripped of their monastic status.
After last night’s rally, Rainsy raised the issue of the politicisation of monks.
“I received information that the authorities planned to abuse the monks because they were afraid that the monks would protest in front of every pagoda,” he claimed.
The CNRP said it planned to block several main roads into the capital as part of daily protests that entered their ninth day today. Yesterday, the government condemned the temporary blockade of one of the main thoroughfares.
Dimanche from the town hall said: “Road users are being held hostage. We understand they [protesters] have the right to exercise their freedom, but they violate the rights of others.”
National police spokesman Kirth Chantharith said that while it was people’s right to demonstrate, armed police might be forced to intervene if public order was affected.
“Holding peaceful demonstrations is a people’s right as stipulated by law. But if demonstrations seriously affect public order and security … action must be taken to ensure social stability,” he said.
Thousands of Cambodia National Rescue Party supporters flocked to Freedom Park during a demonstration in Phnom Penh.
The opposition insists protests will continue daily until new elections are held or Hun Sen steps down. But in an address to the nation on Friday, the leader of the Cambodian People’s Party rejected calls for him to resign.
“I want to confirm that there will be no new elections because no one can dissolve parliament,” he said in his speech, adding that he had “did nothing wrong” and therefore did not need to resign.
He also harshly criticised the CNRP’s decision to block roads in the capital.
“[Blocking roads] “This does not affect the Royal Government or state institutions; it affects the people; it is an illegal act,” he said. “Blocking the road is blocking our blood. The Royal Government remains calm and respects the people’s right to hold peaceful demonstrations. But the government will not agree to any … illegal acts.”
Kem Sokha responded to Hun Sen’s speech after yesterday’s rally.
“[Hun Sen] Says he did nothing wrong. If he says that, come here and meet someone [at Freedom Park] So people can tell him his mistakes.”
Additional reporting by KHOUTH SOPHAK CHAKRYA
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