Ven. Loun Sovath arrested during Boeung Kak residents’ demand to release their representatives

Ven. Loun Sovath arrested during Boeung Kak residents’ demand to release their representatives

Ven. Loun Sovath can be seen dragged by cops in civilian clothes. He was shoved into a waiting car (Photo: FPM)

24 May 2012
By Pech Bandol
Free Press Magazine
Translated from Khmer by Soch

Phnom Penh police force blocked all streets surrounding the Phnom Penh municipal court next to the new City Mall which houses the Lucky market, the ACLEDA bank, as well as a number of other store fronts. All businesses were closed in order to prevent the public from seeing the protest and the crying of Boeung Kak Lake residents who were demanding for the release of 13 of their representatives. At that time, Ven. Loun Sovath, a human rights activist, was seen arrested by force by pro-government monk officials and government forces.

Ven. Loun Sovath was using his cell phone to take pictures of a woman who was protesting against the questioning of their representatives inside the Phnom Penh city courtroom. Less than an hour later, a group of about 10 pro-government monk officials arrived in a new car, they got off the car and they were accompanied by cops dressed in civilian clothes. They then proceeded to grab and pull Ven. Loun Sovath and shoved him inside a car. Meanwhile, protesting Boeung Kak Lake residents attempted to prevent the arrest and in the melee, Ven. Loun Sovath was beaten on his head by the cops who forced him into a car which sped off from the incident location. According to report, Ven. Loun Sovath would be taken to Wat Botumvotey pagoda [where he could be defrocked].

National and international civil society representatives told reporters in front of the court that action by the police and the pro-government monks is a blatant human rights violation and that actions taken by the Phnom Penh city hall are getting worst and more serious.

As of noon time on Thursday, the 13 BKL representatives who were arrested on Tuesday have not been released yet. Children of the arrested BKL representatives can be seen crying and calling for their mothers among a group of 60 BKL residents. The small group of children and women are now surrounded by hundreds of government cops.