Eleanor MacNair has fun…
The original photograph comes from a story I did in 1986 about a hobo on a freight train which you can see HERE…
-They don’t budge: Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha held a press conference at the opposition CNRP headquarters, requesting the same justice for the people who have been cheated from their voice as before the formation of the new government. They will not settle for less than an independent investigation in the 2013 election frauds before even thinking of occupying the 55 seats they gained at parliament, and threaten with a nationwide general strike if their demands are not met.
-They don’t budge: at their last appeal at the Supreme Court, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun still claim their innocence in the assassination of union leader Chea Vichea in 2004. They were sentenced to 20 years after a series of what many observers consider as farcical judicial procedures. The final verdict is due any time…
UPDATE: I will not have to photograph Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun in prisoner’s clothes again: their sentence was suspended by the Supreme Court. They spent nearly ten years in prison for nothing. But then… ‘Who Killed Chea Vichea’? There is already a movie about that by Bradley Cox… The Khmer version can be seen HERE.
‘War and Peace’ at the blockades..
For so-called security reasons whole areas in Phnom Penh have been sealed off with barbed wire fences manned with a large number of riot police since the announcement of the 2013 elections results. 68 out of the 123 new lawmakers have been sworn in (the 55 opposition CNRP MP’s boycotted the opening of the new legislature) (see HERE), the country has a new Prime Minister who is the same as for the previous government and for the last 28 years, yet the barricades remain, creating havoc during rush hours and forcing small businesses to adapt to the new environment.
Of course, some refuse to adapt and just rip the poorly conceived fences apart when they want to get past. That is what residents from Boeung Kak lake and Borei Keila did this morning when trying to reach the Daun Penh police station to get back the tuk-tuk which was taken from them during the vicious crackdown by thugs armed with tasers and firing marble balls at their peacefull vigil (see HERE) from September 22nd.
After the brutal eviction with the use of marble balls and tasers by masked thugs of a peace vigil at Wat Phnom yesterday night which targeted both the participants, human rights observers and journalists, about 50 monks marched to one of the numerous police barricades surrounding the Royal Palace to denounce the violence.
The other 2013 elections photographs are HERE.
Invited by King Norodom Sihamoni, everyone but the newly elected opposition CNRP MP’s showed up under dark skies at the opening session of the new Cambodian legislature.
The other 2013 elections photographs are HERE.
Members of the Boeung Kak lake and Borei Keila communities are gathered for a hunger strike under a kiosk at Wat Phnom to protest the outcome of the 2013 cambodian elections which were allegedly rife with fraud. Their protest will most likely be short lived and they, just like their predecessor Prince Sisowath Thomico a few days earlier (see HERE), will be expelled by the police during the night.
UPDATE: The gathering was indeed dispersed by the police a few moments later…
UPDATE 2: men with masks attacked the vigil, Human Rights observers and journalists with sticks, tasers and marble balls used as projectile. Read Phnom Penh Posts account HERE.
The other 2013 elections photographs are HERE.
Yet another petition delivery attempt to King Norodom Sihamoni regarding the 2013 Cambodian elections was succesfull. About 200 people marched from Wat Unalom, were stopped at the police roadblock, prayed and pleaded, and after an hour or so were allowed through by means of 4 delegates.
And then we hear that the 55 newly elected CNRP MP’s, in a gesture loaded with symbolism, were in front of Angkor Wat, pledging not to betray either country of voter.
The other 2013 elections photographs are HERE.
The 3rd demonstration of the day (see this morning HERE). Organised by the Boeung Kak lake community it appeals to the King and stresses the fact that a peacefull resolution to the political impasse must be found.
Two days before the opening session of the new parliament this monday, the spirits amongst those who do not want to reconcile themselves with the results of the 2013 elections because of the alleged widespread frauds are still high.
The 55 elected MP’s from the opposition CNRP reject the King’s invitation and will most likely not attend the opening session.
The other 2013 elections photographs are HERE.
