DPA
Phnom Penh - Riot police on Tuesday prevented several hundred Cambodians, who represent tens of thousands of victims of land grabs, from marching to the premier's house to hand over a petition requesting help.
The UN human rights office condemned the decision to outlaw the march, saying it was issued "without any reasons or justification" as required under the law regulating demonstrations.
"It is difficult to understand how a peaceful march involving only 220 persons, whose sole objective is to deliver a petition to the prime minister, could endanger public order or security," said UN human rights country head Christophe Peschoux, adding that the land issue was "of great importance."
The village representatives from across the country instead handed the petition, which was thumb-printed by 60,000 villagers, to members of Prime Minister Hun Sen's cabinet.
Meanwhile, UN human rights envoy Surya Subedi, on his third visit to Cambodia, said he would focus on the judiciary and its ability to dispense justice, including for people involved in land evictions.
No comments:
Post a Comment