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2013-14 Cambodia post-election violence

Cambodia always has political deadlock after National General Election. Sam Rainsy, Opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) leader strongly rejects the election result of 2013 and alleges Prime Minister Hun Sen, the ruling Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) leader of electoral fraud. Political crisis leads to deadly violence and violent crackdown. Pro-opposition party and anti-government protesters around tens of thousands from provinces and cities join the mass non-violent demonstration. Post-election tension erupts into violence, tense and unpredictable situations. and cities join the mass non-violent demonstration Because of long day- demonstration and marching along important national streets as well as blocking the main roads, Cambodia government takes actions to dismantle and crack down and restrict freedom of expression and assembly. Local and international NGOs, foreign embassies in Cambodia and United Nations condemn Cambodia government following violent/deadly crackdown and arresting 23 protestors and detaining protestor leaders. Sam Rainy and anti-government protesters are committed to continue mass demonstration unless the deadlock is resolved.

Post Election Tension
Hun Sen is the long serving prime minister in the Southeast Asia for 28 years. Hun Sen and Sam Rainsy have claimed victory in the election for the fifth mandate. Cambodian People’s party (CPP) has got 68 seats, while Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) got 55 seats. CRNP has claimed victory over CPP saying it won 63 seats in the 123 seats in Parliament. CNRP insists for the re-election and claims to find the justice for the voters. The ruling CPP has not agreed to make the multi- party committee involving the UN and society groups to investigate irregularities during the national election 28 July, 2013. CRNP opposition lawmakers reject the results and boycotted the opening of parliament after the authorities refused to hold an independent inquiry, while King Norodom Sihamoni issued a decree to approval to the results of general election. More than 25,000 duplicate names in city’s election rolls were found, ink used to prevent repeat voting can be removed, while some people reported not being able to find their name on voter registers, or their ballots has been cast by others. CNRP protestors gathered at Freedom Park and allied along the streets to demand Hun Sen step down and new election. Tens of thousands of Cambodians opposition supporters, backed by striking garment factory workers joined the demonstration, allied and blocked the road to press their demand that the government raise the minimum wage to 160$ a month from 95$. Garment sector accounts for 80% of Cambodia’s total exports and backbone of country’s economy. Prime Minister Hun Sen said that continuing protests may lead garment investors to relocate firms to other countries like Burma, Laos or India where labour is cheaper. Hundreds of CNRP supporters camped to step down long-serving Prime Hun Sen since 15 December, 2013 in Freedom Park. Cambodia government moved in thousands of Cambodia military police and security force to stand by along the main streets and Freedom Park.

Election Day ended in Violence, July 2013
Violent clash erupted after closing of the polling stations. Voters complained about ballot fraud and of being denied a chance to vote (their names were not on voter lists). There were discrimination and accusation that Vietnamese voted, which created verbal conflict and violence at some polling stations. Dozens of protesters including monks clashed with military policemen in Stung Meanchey district, Phnom Penh. Two military police vehicles were destroyed and fired. A man targeted by the mob violence got injured of being named as Vietnamese.

Deadly violence, September 2013
Security police clashed with Cambodia protesters when the police blocked the two main roads near the Kbal Thnal Bridge leading into and exiting from Phnom Penh. Police shot dead one protester wearing a yellow head ban with the word, “We demand Justice”, three got seriously injured, several others wounded and 10 people arrested when police opened fire and used the tear gas and water cannons to crack down the protesters supporting the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP). Protesters smashed a barrier in the middle of a road, preventing them from traveling to their homes and threw rock, shoes and other objects at the police, causing one police injured. This violence happened a day before the schedule talks between Prime Minster Hun Sen and CRNP leader Sam Rainsy in purpose to end their dispute over the elections.

Deadly violence, November, 2013


A woman died and several injured in clashes between riot police and garment workers in Phnom Penh when the police opened gunshot, fire tear gas and some protesters said that police also used ammunition. Around 100 police blocked some 600 protesters airing their grievances over low pay and poor working condition along Stung Meanchey road and tried to push a barricade on the way to Prime Minister Hun Sen’s home to demand better basic wage 160$ and working condition and they clashed with the police. It is not clear which side provoked violence first. Right groups said that it began after the protests threatened to beat up police sent to negotiate with them. Police fired live bullets and tear gas to rescue their colleagues and protesters threw rocks at police. The police also fired tear gas into a pagoda when protesters retreated to a pagoda and nine people were hurt. Protesters and monks joined in the protests responded to with stones at police. The police chased and cornered youth and beat a number of them bloody. More than 40 people including several monks were arrested and beaten in their custody, leaving several of them injured.

Violent crackdown, December, 2013
Cambodia Garment workers and footwear workers clashed with military police officers outside the Phnom Penh Economic Zone, leaving several workers and police injured. This violence erupted when police blocked the key highway in Phnom Penh to prevent protest workers who attempted to encourage fellow workers to join a protect rally. Protesters also blocked National Route Four Highway to demand their wage 160$ and military police responded using electric batons, shield and fired warning shot and workers threw stone at the military police officers, seven of whom were injured. Negotiation between government and unions failed to solve a disputes over minimum wage 160$. Thousands of workers joined mass anti-government demonstrations organized by the opposition party CNRP at Freedom Park, demanding the government to increase double minimum wage and calling on Hun Sen to step down. Government announced that minimum wage for garment workers would be increased from 80$ to 95$ starting from April next year. However, the workers demanded a minimum wage of 160$ per month in 2014.

Bloody crackdown, early January 2014
At least four people shot to death and 20 others were injured when military police opened fire to break up a protest by garment workers demanding minimum wage to 160$ a month after several hundred of garment workers blocked a road, burned tires and throwing stones and objects at police officers. The clash occurred since overnight. Clash erupted for a second day when security forced halted a demonstration by thousands of workers refused to move and threw bottles, stone and petrol bombs at an industrial zone in Phnom Penh. Police opened fire with assault rifles (AK-47) in to the air and others shot at the ground level to quell a protest. The opposition party and anti government protesters have close ties with the labor movement. Unions representing disgruntled garment workers joined the protest with opposition supporters against the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen to demand re-election. Defense Ministry issue statement said that army would take whatever action was necessary to defend the legal government, king and constitution. Sam Rainsy, CNRP leader courted 350,000 garment workers from nearly 500 factories and promised to nearly double wage to 160$ if CNRP wins a re-election.



Freedom Park dismantled, early January, 2014
Riot police and city workers approached Freedom Park to dismantle a camp occupied by anti government protests a day after a bloody crackdown on factory workers. The police forcibly drove off hundreds of protesters, while three helicopters hovered overhead. CNRP supporters grabbed their belonging and fled, some clutching babies. Riot police, some carrying axes and steel pipes dismantled the stage and tents and other carried batons to keep journalists away from the site. Police beat protesters and monks and forced them to leave the park immediately. After two hours, the Freedom Park was successfully dismantled. Cambodian government tries to close down a protest site in Phnom Penh and banned all rallied and assemblies in the capital. Phnom Penh municipality spokesman Long Dimanche said that opposition supporter marched out of the park, destroying private property, closing down the roads and causing social instability.



Violent crackdown, end of January, 2014
Several people were injured at the rally organized by nine unions and association demanding the release of 23 workers arrested during a violent crackdown in early January. The next day, at least eight people injured as police used smoke grenades and electric batons to disperse hundreds people and anti-government protest led by radio station owner Mam Sonando gathered in front of the Cambodia Ministry of Information to press demand for license for a television channel. Protesters and journalists were hit by police batons during the rally. Government rejected the application saying that there was no frequency available. All local TV channels are closely linked to Prime Minister Hun Sen and government gives a license to television station supporting government. The government imposed a ban on rallies and street marches in Phnom Penh and does not allow people to gather after a wave of protests.