A demonstration planned for Thursday by 350 Poipet land-grab protesters who have been camped in the city for the last two months was cancelled by municipal officials who had earlier said they would allow it.
Municipal Cabinet Chief Mann Chhoeun denied permission for the protest, saying government leaders are preoccupied with flooding.
“Any demonstration should not [take place] now because everyone is very busy with the flood problem ravaging across the country,” Mann Chhoeun said. He added such demonstrations should be only a “last resort.”
But protesters said they have run out of options to attract interest to their case. They said they represent more than 800 families forced off land to make room for development.
They have protested outside the National Assembly during the day and camped at night in Hun Sen Park. The area is now flooded, contaminating their food and water. A physician for human-rights group Licadho said at least 30 protesters, mostly children, are suffering from diarrhea.
Protesters’ spokesman Ly Keo Sovann said his people did not want to defy the city’s ban. He noted that many are sick and can’t march anyway.
“We canceled it for now and plan [to try] again soon when our people recover,” he said.
