Cambodia has 'Freedom park'

06/05/2010

PHNOM PENH - CAMBODIA has set up a 'Freedom Park' designated for political demonstrations in a move critics say is another attempt to protect the government and silence dissenting voices.

The site, which is located far from government buildings and parliament, will be the only space made available to any group wanting to stage a demonstration. Protests at other locations in the capital Phnom Penh will be outlawed.

'This is the place to express opinions,' said the city's police chief, Touch Naruth. 'I toured the site this morning. This is a public place where up to 5,000 people can gather,' he said, noting that the law only allows a maximum of 200 people to protest and larger gatherings required written permission from the authorities.

That law was passed in October last year, sparking condemnation from rights groups and opposition lawmakers, who accused the ruling Cambodian People's Party of abusing its parliamentary majority to curtail freedom of expression.

Cambodia's defamation laws were also tightened last year after a series of court cases brought against lawmakers and journalists critical of long-serving Prime Minister Hun Sen and his powerful associates.

The idea for the 'Freedom Park' appears to follow that of Singapore, where protests were made legal in 2008, but only in a designated 'Speakers' Corner'. The Singaporean idea is modelled on a similar place in London's Hyde Park, although Britain's laws do not restrict demonstrations to a single location. -- REUTERS