February 1, 2012 – Peaceful demonstration of Borey Keila and Boeung Kak residents cracked down by police in front of Phnom Penh City Hall
Over one hundred Borey Keila (BRL) and Boeung Kak Lake (BKL) residents who were peacefully protesting in front of Phnom Penh Municipality this morning were cracked down by approximately eighty police officers. The protesters began demonstrating at 8am and asked the Phnom Penh Governor to meet them face to face in order to discuss a solution to the Borey Keila and Boeung Kak issues. BKL residents demanded that City Hall officials help them to obtain a more significant compensation for their eviction. As for BRL residents, they asked the Municipality to allow them to continue living in their settlements, or if this was impossible then to intervene to ensure adequate compensation in case of eviction.
After more than three hours, as no official went outside to negotiate with them, BRL & BKL residents moved to the main entrance of City Hall offices. The police asked the protesters to discontinue the demonstration and go home, and started to crack down on them – almost exclusively women, some carrying children. The women disputed the police officers and some took off their clothes as a sign of protest. A disturbing fact, as City Hall guards used violence against demonstrators (unlawfully confiscating possessions such as hats and a megaphone), the police remained motionless.
Monivong boulevard in front of the City Hall was closed and the police started to arrest protesters. At least 6 protesters were sent to Phnom Penh Police Commission. These developments are a blatant violation of the right to freedom of expression and assembly, recognized by both the Cambodian Constitution (article 41) and international human rights instruments such as the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (articles 19 and 21).
