Restrictions Placed on Attack Anniversary Event

 Restrictions Placed on Attack Anniversary Event

The Cambodia Daily | 30 March 2017

The CNRP is expecting about 500 supporters to attend its annual ceremony marking the morning in 1997 that 17 people were killed in a grenade attack during an opposition rally in Phnom Penh, though City Hall has only permitted 100 to gather.

Municipal spokesman Met Measpheakdey said the opposition party would be allowed to hold an anniversary event at a stupa memorializing the attack near Wat Botum, but with conditions.

“They must ensure security during their ceremony and don’t make a Buddhist ceremony become another event contrary to the purpose that they requested,” he said, adding that 100 people and “some monks” could participate.

Eng Chhay Eang, one of the CNRP’s three vice presidents, said the party would proceed as it has for the past 20 years. “We do it in the morning every year and we never cause problems that give the authorities a headache,” he said, adding that he expected 500 supporters and family members of the victims to join.

Sam Rainsy, the former opposition leader who was leading the rally that March day, said he would mark the anniversary by “addressing the Cambodian people through a video statement on Facebook.”