On Monday December 27, The Alliance for Free of Expression in Cambodia (APEC), a Network of 28 Cambodia Non-governmental Organizations, independent labor unions and other institutions were denied to give permission for flying 100 kites from peaceful demonstrators in front of the National Assembly by Phnom Penh municipality and more than 60 kites were confiscated by riot polices officers.

Kites flyings coordinated by the Cambodian Center for Human Rights (CCHR) is to pressure the Assembly to amend a law curbing the rights of free speech of lawmakers and to scrap jail sentence for those accused of spreading disinformation. It is also aimed at getting the Assembly to adopt a law guaranteeing people’s rights to peaceful protest. At the mean time, on November 23, the APEC sent open letter and invitation to members of the Cambodian National Assembly. The letter said that “Without wind a kite cannot fly, Without Freedom of Expression Society cannot progress.”

Pa Nguon Teang, CCHR’s Executive Director, quoted by local Khmer newspaper, said that APEC set November 27 to fly 100 kites in front of National Assembly in Phnom Penh with more than 150 participants. He added that his organization sent permission letter to Phnom Penh municipality but until November 26, City Hall authorities did not answer back.

Deputy Municipal Governor Pa Socheatvong said that “the CCHR did not ask permission from us so we do not allow them to organize the kite flying.” He added that “The CCHR…do not understand the law. The Cambodia Daily report.

CPP lawmaker Cheam Yeap said that Assembly would not bend to the kite fliers and amend the law curbing the free speech of parliamentarians, as the legislation has already been ruled constitutional by the Constitution Council. The paper report.

Kek Galabru, president of Licadho, quoted by the Cambodia Daily, warned that the government’s reputation was suffering because of its failures to act in a democratic manner. She also accused authorities of treating NGO workers like terrorists.

That is the activities of riot police, equiped with shields, confiscating kites from peaceful protester in front of National Assembly.

Random Posts