Nearly 100 military police officers waited in the park across from the National Assembly Sunday morning to shut down an anticipated gathering of government watchdogs.
No demonstrators appeared.
Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema on Friday denied the Khmer Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Organization and the Cambodia Independent Watch Committee permission to hold an Anti-Corruption Day rally in Wat Botum Vatei park on Wednes-day.
But Sunday, police blocked ent-rances to the park and created a wall of vehicles in front of the main bandstand amid reports that the committee would hold a news conference in the morning.
Daun Penh district Police Chief Phorn Pheing said Sunday that his officers had prepared for a crackdown on the chance that KHRACO officials, in defiance of the municipal ban, would try to gather its supporters Sunday.
The groups were denied permission to congregate on Wednesday because the event would sully the park and disturb public order, according to Kep Chuktema’s letter denying permission for the event. The letter suggested the event be held in KHRACO’s office.
Kep Chuktema hung up on a reporter twice on Sunday.
Several radio stations on Sunday advertised a news conference held Sunday at KHRACO’s Tuol Kok district office.
The local office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, which planned to join the event, said there did not appear to be adequate grounds to restrict Wednesday’s gathering.
“Corruption is widely accepted as being endemic in Cambodia, and affects the enjoyment of human rights,” spokeswoman Saku Akmeemana said on Sunday.
“It is particularly regrettable that discussion of an issue of such significant public interest in Cambodia is being restricted at a time when international attention is focused on the signing of the UN Convention against Corruption.”
Any restrictions of the freedoms of assembly and expression must be limited to those that are necessary to maintain public order, Akmeemana said.
This is the first time in four years that the groups have been prohibited from holding the event, which was to include musical performances and discussions by human rights groups.
Since the Jan 29 anti-Thai riots, the municipality and Interior Ministry have not permitted
public assemblies they con-sidered to be threats to public security.
The UN human rights office in Phnom Penh and local human rights groups have regularly criticized the government over the issue.
Interior Ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said last week that Anti-Corruption Day is unnecessary. The government already opposes graft, he said, as shown by the draft anti-corruption law awaiting National Assembly debate.
KHRACO and CIWC are appealing to King Norodom Sihanouk, the Interior Ministry and Prime Minister Hun Sen for permission to assemble, or for a detailed explanation of the rejection, KHRACO Secretary-General Som Sophatra said on Sunday. (Additional reporting by Kuch Naren)
