Original source from "http://licadho-cambodia.org/stream/"
October Mass Protest: Day 1
Welcome to LICADHO Live Stream. We will be live
streaming news as-it-happens during a three-day rally by the Cambodian
National Rescue Party (CNRP) planned for October 23-25 in Phnom Penh.
This is CNRP's second multi-day protest, following the July 2013
national elections which election monitors criticized as marred with widespread fraud and irregularities. CNRP has rejected the results and is calling for an independent probe.
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As
the crowd approaches its peak, a constant flow of vans have brought in
more participants from the provinces, many of whom eat under the shade
at Wat Phnom. An estimated 15,000 citizens have come to the rally so
far.
CNRP petition to the UN and Paris Peace Accords signatories
The CNRP petition that will be delivered this afternoon states:
We are the Cambodian people have seen that:
- the National Assembly opening meeting on September 23, 2013, consisted of only one political party (CPP) in attendance. Given the serious irregularities in the July election, the CNRP boycotted joining the National Assembly.
- according to the Cambodian Constitution, the 5th mandate National Assembly is considered unconstitutional as it was elected from one a single-party.
- the 5th mandate National Assembly and government is therefore illegitimate
- Cambodia is moving towards a communist regime, contrary to the Paris Peace Accords.
We
would like to submit this petition, with thumbprint signatures below,
to the UN Secretary and all Paris Peace Accords signatories to help us
resolve this issue and ask the current leader to obey the treaty.
You can view the petition here at CNRP’s website.
Updates on checkpoints as CNRP supporters stream into Phnom Penh
LICADHO
field monitors reported a few temporary blocks at the following
checkpoints this morning. So far, reports indicate that all supporters
have been allowed to continue on their way into the city. Some
checkpoints are examining driver’s licenses and noting down vehicle
license plate numbers.
- National Road #1 at Wat Kampong Phnom, Leu Dek district, Kandal province: trucks stopped
- National Road #2 at Takhmao district, Kandal province: no road blocks/tents near Kandal Provincial Hall, or Kbal Thnal Sky Bridge, but there are plain-clothed police and small team of military police standing near CNRP head office in Sangkat Chak Angrei Kron. In Prek Ho commune, police are checking vehicles.
- National Road #3 at Prek Dong village, Bati district, Takeo province: trucks stopped
- National Road # 4 in Tra Pang Kong commune, Somrong Tong district, Kampong Speu province: around 13 trucks were stopped and driver’s licenses checked.
- National Road #4 in Bek Chan commune, Angsnol district, Kandal province: police attempted to search around 70 trucks for drugs. When people threatened to block NR 4, police relented and allowed CNRP supporters through.
- National Road #5 at Wat Tep Raingsey in Ponhea Lu district, Kandal province: groups of military police are stationed along the road and police are taking note of all license plates passing through.
- National Road #21 in front of Wat Chhouk Leap, Saang district: police blocked around 30 CNRP trucks of supporters, but opened the way after negotiations.
Local
radio station Voice of Democracy (VOD) reports that Sam Rainsy revealed
in the press conference that he and Minister of Interior Sar Kheng
agreed to avoid violence during the three-day protest. The CNRP
President added that the rally plans to uphold the principles of
peaceful protest.
CNRP Press Conference Highlights
CNRP
President Sam Rainsy and Deputy President Kem Sokha just concluded
their press conference and announced the objectives of the rally as:
- to seek justice for Cambodians
- to call for dialogue between government, local and international NGOs, and the UN to address current election irregularities and find solutions to ensure future free and fair elections
- to demand election reform, as urged by the UN, EU, National Democratic Institute (NDI), and COMFREL. They further called for the resignation of the NEC leader before continuing talks on election reform.
At
2 pm, Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha will move to Freedom Park to address the
crowds before leading them to deliver petitions to the UN Office of the
High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Freedom
Park is looking vibrant. LICADHO monitors estimate at least 8,000
people are already in Freedom Park and surrounding areas. The crowd is
growing as trucks of supporters from the provinces continue to flow in.
Journalists cover the start of Day 1
Reuters journalist Prak Chan Thul tweets the lack of roadblocks:
The Cambodia Daily Editor-in-Chief Kevin Doyle notes the build-up of supporters:
Magnum photojournalist John Vink shows journalists at the ready for the CNRP press conference:
Already,
around 300 people have gathered at the rally point in Thnal Kaeng area
on National Road #6. People are still arriving so we expect this number
to grow rapidly.
Provincial CNRP Rally Points
This
morning, CNRP supporters have been gathering in three provinces at the
following rally points to organize their drive into the capital.
- Kampong Speu: Phsar Thnal Tateang on National Road #4
- Kampong Chhnang: Phsar Trach on National Road #5
- Kampong Cham: Thnal Kaeng area on National Road #6
First day begins with prayer and song
Day
1 begins with approximately 500 people gathered at Freedom Park.
People woke up to singing and music and began the morning with a
religious ceremony. The CNRP security team reminded people to exercise
caution, remain peaceful, and report any suspicious activity.
The
highlights of today's schedule include a 9:00 am press conference at
CNRP's head office at Chak Angre Leu commune, Meanchey district, and the
3:00 pm petition delivery walk from Freedom Park to the UN Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Day 1 Opens to Unobstructed City Roads
LICADHO
field teams report an absence of barbwire-fenced road blocks on main
arteries of the city. Such road block had been the cause of repeated
instances of violence during the first mass protest on September 15-17.
Magnum photojournalist John Vink has the same observation:
Freedom Park's main stage is fully constructed and new projector screens installed for viewing by the mass crowds tomorrow.
Tonight,
an estimated 200 eager CNRP supporters have gathered in the Park. The
CNRP supporters, many of which are families with women, children, and
elderly relatives, traveled to Phnom Penh from Kandal, Prey Veng,
Kampong Cham, Kampong Speu, Svay Rieng, and Battambang. Many will stay
in the park -- some sleeping on mats while family members stay awake to
keep guard. Others will return to guesthouses or homes in Phnom Penh
for the night.
CNRP leader Sam Rainsy announces press conference tomorrow 9 am.
Elected CNRP MP Yim Sovann of Phnom Penh reveals CNRP three-day schedule.
Security checkpoints are up on national roads
So far, LICADHO monitors can confirm that authorities are setting up security checkpoints in the following areas:
- National Road #1 at Wat Chompa, Khnal Kos commune, Kean Svay district, Kandal province
- National Road #2 at Takhmao town, Kandal province
- National Road #3 at Wat Sleng, Protralang commune, Dangkaor district, Phnom Penh
- National Road #4 in Bek Chan commune, Ang Snoul district, Kandal province
- National Road #5 at Wat Tep Raingsey in Ponhea Lu district, Kandal province
- National Road #6 in Ba Keang commune, Russei Keo district, Phnom Penh
At the moment, cars are being checked at some security points, but none have been blocked.
US and Australian Embassies Issue Security Messages for their Citizens
The US embassy and Australian embassy have advised their citizens to exercise a high degree of caution around Phnom Penh during the planned demonstrations.
The
U.S. Embassy encourages you to avoid large crowds and immediately leave
any area where crowds are gathering. You should remain alert to local
security developments by monitoring local news reports, be vigilant
regarding your personal security and preparedness, be aware of your
surroundings, and plan your activities accordingly.
MoI letter to Phnom Penh Municipality on CNRP protest
In a Ministry of Interior (MoI) posting on its website yesterday, the MoI announced the following:
- MoI permits CNRP to protest peacefully in Freedom Park from October 23-25, from 6:00 am-6:00 pm. There is no permission to stay at night in the Park or other areas.
- MoI permits a maximum of 10,000 people to assemble in the Park.
- It is CNRP’s responsibility to manage the protest responsibly for peaceful order, security, and protection of human life and private and public property.
- If CNRP wishes to send its petition to embassies or other institutions in advance, CNRP officials must cooperate with the Phnom Penh Municipality to limit the number of people in delivering the petitions.
More information can be found on the Ministry of Interior website.
Preparations begin for tomorrow's rally
CNRP
are currently building the main stage and peripheral tents in
preparation for tomorrow's mass protest. A little over 100 supporters
are on the sides of the park.
Welcome to LICADHO Live Stream
On
the eve of the second Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) days-long
rally calling for an investigation into election irregularities, we are
launching a new information sharing platform: the LICADHO Live Stream.
The
Live Stream, accessible via http://licadho-cambodia.org/stream/, is
going on air now and will offer updates as-they-happen throughout the
duration of the CNRP rally. The updates consist of first-hand reporting
gathered by our LICADHO field teams as well as filtered information from
reliable sources - such as journalists and NGO partners.
This service is meant to offer a trusted data hub for people wanting to keep in touch with the unfolding rally.
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