Municipal authorities yesterday prevented a group of about 150 people from carrying out a march between Wat Phnom and the Royal Palace for the third International Day of Peace, an annual event established by the UN in 1981 to promote world peace. A group of peace activists, monks and nuns gathered at 8 am at the foot of Wat Phnom in preparation to march to Preah Ang Dang Ker, a shrine on the promenade in front of the Royal Palace. As they were leaving Wat Phnom, about 30 district police officers told the group they did not have the proper permission to march. Daun Penh district public order Chief Kim Vutha said that municipal authorities had not been informed about the march and, therefore, could not allow the group to walk through Phnom Penh. "We can't allow them to walk, because they would cause a traffic jam," Mr vutha said. "City Hall can't respond immediately to prepare for public order." But Dy Thehoya, a coordinator for the Working Group for Peace, which organized the march, said that a letter had been sent to City Hall on Sept 15, six days before the march was due to take place, seeking permission.
By law, requests to carry out a public demonstration must be made at least five days in advance. Mr Thehoya said City Hall did not respond. "Even though they did not reply, we have to celebrate on [Sept 21], because this is the day people around the world celebrate International Day of Peace," Mr Thehoya said. Just before 9 am, police allowed the marchers to walk around Wat Phnom three times before they gathered for speeches and prayers in front of the hilltop temple. Lao Mong Hay, a senior researcher at the Asia Human rights Commission, said the government's resistance to an event like the International Day of Peace is a cause for concern. "The authorities don't want people to show opinions, or meet in society, because they are afraid and don't trust in their own people," Mr Mong Hay said.
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
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