As the newly formed Cambodia Watchdog Council debates whether to mobilize its members for a demonstration next week, Phnom Penh police and the government-aligned Pagoda Boys Association are preparing for the worst.
The council announced Wednesday that they may hold a demonstration next week to call for the release of students arrested and accused of participating in last week’s riots. They may also urge the government to free Beehive Radio owner Mam Sonando and Rasmei Angkor (Light of Angkor) newspaper Editor En Chan Sivatha, who were detained last week.
Police officials from across the city reported Thursday that officers are turning bamboo sticks into billy clubs for a possible demonstration.
“In my district there are about 20 policemen standing by waiting for an order from our commander. We are preparing bamboo sticks because our rubber sticks are broken,” said El Ranny, Russei Keo district deputy police chief. “We are painting them black for the demonstration.”
The Pagoda Boys, a student group which identifies itself as pro-government, also weighed in on the council’s Feb 1 statement in which the group called for Prime Minister Hun Sen’s resignation. The Pagoda Boys called the move “unconstitutional.”
Pagoda Boys Secretary-General Yi Mao said approximately 4,000 students “will react to any kind of activity from any extremist group.”
Democratic Front leader Men Nath said that Sunday’s meeting would not be a demonstration, but a planning session with leaders from his group, the Free Trade Union of Workers, the Student Movement for Democracy, the Independent Farmers Association and the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association.
Ministry of Interior spokesman General Khieu Sopheak said Thursday that the council has every right to demonstrate. “We guarantee the expression of freedom, as long as they follow the law,” he said.
CPP spokesman Khieu Kanharith accused the council on Thursday of being affiliated with the Sam Rainsy Party, a charge both the council and the Sam Rainsy Party deny.
“Those organizations are supporting Sam Rainsy’s activities but we are not part of the group,” Sam Rainsy Party spokesman Phi Thach said.
