Opposition lawmaker-elect Mu Sochua and five CNRP youth supporters were ejected Tuesday from Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park after they gathered to film a video for a foundation named after Free Trade Union founder Chea Vichea, who was assassinated in 2004.
“We went to disseminate information about the Chea Vichea Foundation, and we went there to [shoot] a video to show the fund’s owner, who had offered $11,900 for victims of recent crackdowns,” said Ms. Sochua.
“We did not come to demonstrate, and we did not have many people. We only had six people, and according to City Hall’s order, they do not allow more than nine people.”
A four-minute video posted on Facebook shows Ms. Sochua and the youths gathering at the park for about two minutes before they are told to leave by authorities, including Kim Vutha, head of Daun Penh district public security.
When they defied the order, authorities shoved members of the group and grabbed their cameras. Ms. Sochua said the equipment was later returned.
“We told them we just wanted to post a video and asked them to give us two minutes, but they did not agree with us,” she said.
