Eight protestors charged over blocking of National Road 4

[geovalin]

Preah Sihanouk Provincial Court has charged eight people suspected of violating criminal and traffic laws after they were arrested during a land dispute protest on National Road 4 in the province’s Prey Nop district last week. On Thursday and Friday, more than 100 people blocked the road as provincial authorities attempted to carry out a court decision to remove more than 600 illegally-built homes on private property in Bit Trang commune’s Chamnaot Ream village.

The incident resulted in the arrest of two people on Thursday and six more on Friday after protestors threw stones at authorities and their vehicles. Provincial police chief Major General Chuon Narin yesterday said the eight were sent to court on Saturday evening for allegedly using violence on police officers, causing injuries and affecting public order by setting up the roadblock.

“Blocking a public road is illegal, it is the same as obstructing the handling of traffic,” Maj Gen Narin said. “When police tried to de-escalate the traffic situation and began opening a way for people to travel, a group of suspects used violence against the authorities who were working to facilitate travel for the general public.” “It was an illegal act stated as a criminal offence,” he added. “So we arrested them in accordance with legal procedures.”

 

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