Overseas Press Club of Cambodia condemns violent attack on journalists in Phnom Penh
Updated
The Overseas Press Club of Cambodia has strongly condemned attacks against Cambodian and foreign journalists in Phnom Penh on Sunday night.
The violence comes amid political tensions as the Opposition boycotts the opening of Parliament due to concerns about electoral fraud.
Journalists who were covering a protest in Phnom Penh say they were deliberately attacked by police and men in plain clothes, brandishing slingshots and stun guns.
An attack against the President of the Overseas Press Club of Cambodia, Rick Valenzuela, was captured on video.
Mr Valenzuela said uniformed men who he believed were military police grabbed him and forcefully yanked his camera off his neck and out of his hands.
"The camera got broken, I got a little bit bloodied," he said.
Seven reporters sustained minor injuries while at least two Cambodian protesters were hit by slingshot projectiles and hospitalised.
While the reporters sustained mild injuries, the mother of a well-known land rights activist was hit in the eye with a marble sized projectile.
A 73-year old woman was also hit in the chest by a similar object.
At least seven foreign and Cambodian reporters were covering a demonstration when the electricity was cut to the area.
Military spokesman Kheng Tito says it is hard to tell who was responsible for the attack because it was dark at the time.
David Chandler, who is a historian and veteran observer of Cambodian affairs, says an attack against the journalists was probably orchestrated by the government.
Mr Chandler says video footage of the incident suggests the violence had official backing.
"Well I think it was certainly organised by the Government with approval at high levels," he said.
"The fact that there were uniformed people involved means there were people there acting under orders. Un-uniformed people are probably also paid employees of the ruling government...they're there to make it look like a popular repression, as well as a police one."
The US Embassy made a statement calling on the Royal Government of Cambodia to conduct an immediate, full and transparent investigation into the attack.
"[We] want to bring to justice those responsible for the disturbing violence," it said.
Their spokesperson, John Simmons, also responded saying they were deeply concerned by reports of violence and intimidation at Wat Phnom on Sunday after a so far relatively peaceful electoral process.
"We expect the parties to uphold their commitment to avoid violence and urge security forces to protect peaceful protesters."
Concerns about electoral fraud remain as the country's leader Hun Sen pushes ahead with his new government.
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party boycotted the opening of parliament this week and says it will hold further protests around the country against what they say was a stolen election.
Topics: activism-and-lobbying, journalism, cambodia, asia
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