Gov’t Defends Ban on Public Demonstrations

The Ministry of Interior for the first time has defended its ban on virtually all public demonstrations that has been in effect since Jan­u­ary 2004, despite being in violations of the Constitution’s guarantee of freedom of expression and as­sembly.

In a letter dated April 8, Interior Min­istry spokesman Khieu So­phe­ak responded directly to criticism by union officials and hu­man rights groups that since the Anti-Thai riots of 2002, the government has refused to grant permits for any demonstrations and has used withering violence to break up those that do occur.

“Organizers did not f­ill out forms or abide by the Law on De­mon­strations, and some demonstrations did not notify the authorities or authorities could not give per­mission,” Khieu Sopheak wrote in response to a Free Trade Union letter dated March 24 on the use of government force against peaceful protesters.

“Participants always caused se­rious impact to security and public order, which create opportunity for gangs, and other offenders to steal, snatch or commit other acts which cause chaos in society and cause damage to public and private property,” Khieu Sopheak continued.

Ny Chankrya, chief investigator for the rights group Adhoc called the statement a “pretext to strip the people of their rights.”

He also said violence is instigated by counter-demonstrators, many of whom are pro-government. “This is the government’s mistake,” he said. “Government should divert demonstrators and counter-demonstrators away from each other.”

FTU President Chea Mony called the statement irresponsible Wednesday and said it is the duty of police to protect demonstrators and ensure protests are orderly, not to enforce a total ban.

“We notice that counter-de­mon­strators supporting the government cause insecurity and use violence,” Chea Mony said.

Khieu Sopheak on Wednesday defended the ban and blasted  rights workers. “[They] earn for their boss only, not for the interests of the Cambodian people,” he said. “Their job is to criticize…if they do not write such reports their work would be finished.”