Release of the BK 13

by jm » Wed Jun 27, 2012 6:49 pm

http://licadho-cambodia.org/pressrelease.php?perm=283

by **vladimir** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 7:41 pm

' Whilst the judges heard the appeal inside the court, a large unit of anti-riot intervention police were mobilized to prevent BK community residents and neighboring community villagers from reaching the court. The police officers turned violent as a group of children tried to rush through the road block. During the standoff, one woman - a sister to one of the 13 jailed representatives - was kicked by an intervention police officer in the stomach. Doctors have confirmed that she was pregnant and has lost her unborn child due to heavy bleeding. At least 4 other BK villagers and 7 children were beaten by police and had to receive medical treatments. '

Lovely people. :-?

Good thing we removed the bbq cows from pavements and banned fishing in front of the Royal Palace, we don't want people to think we're violent or anything...

by **drwahwah** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:10 pm

by **vladimir** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 8:52 pm

Yeah, look :oops:

how well that turned out last time...

by **LTO** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 9:40 pm

Whilst it is shameful that the police would beat pregnant women and children, I don't think it particularly laudable to send children against riot police or for pregnant women to endanger their unborn children by participating in predictably violent protests. As protest tactics to gain sympathy go, deliberately putting children in harms way seems pretty low to me.

by **keeping_it_riel** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:26 pm

LTO wrote:Whilst it is shameful that the police would beat pregnant women and children, I don't think it particularly laudable to send children against riot police or for pregnant women to endanger their unborn children by participating in predictably violent protests. As protest tactics to gain sympathy go, deliberately putting children in harms way seems pretty low to me.

I have a theory about this. Just speculation. Will post when I get home.

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by **Uncle Monty** » Wed Jun 27, 2012 10:54 pm

keeping_it_riel wrote:
LTO wrote:Whilst it is shameful that the police would beat pregnant women and children, I don't think it particularly laudable to send children against riot police or for pregnant women to endanger their unborn children by participating in predictably violent protests. As protest tactics to gain sympathy go, deliberately putting children in harms way seems pretty low to me.

I have a theory about this. Just speculation. Will post when I get home.

Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

I agree with LTO and have a funny feeling it's going to be the same with the speculation.

by **keeping_it_riel** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 2:56 am

Right. Home.

Before, I advance my theory I'd like to put forward a couple of provisios....

1) You might need to be a leftist (or in my case an ex leftist) to get this, but my own personal support for the protesters would best be described as 'critical but unconditional'.

What that means in lefty language is I fully endorse their cause 100% but reserve the right to disagree with their tactics or strategy whilst in no way offering any support to their enemy.

So basically, I consider myself fully on their side.

2) I wholeheartedly condemn the beating by police of children and pregnant women in any circumstances and whatever the actions of the protesters. I believe the policeman who beat the pregnant woman should be arrested and charged with murder.

However and moving on......

It's fantastic that the 13 are now out and less fantastic that the convictions were not quashed but do you think that this was decided before or after today's demo? My best guess is before.

As LTO says, barang protesters were seen on the demo today and have certainly been part of the campaign (behind the scenes) for a while (those slinky t-shit designs didn't come from Khmers) but how much responsibility did they have for the strategy and tactics of today's demonstration and specifically the charge on police that led to children being beaten and a baby's life being lost ?

Next, exactly who are the expat protesters involved? I didn't recognize any of them and nor did anybody who I canvassed tonight. The consensus seemed to be they were of the 'here today, gone tomorrow' variety. In other words, expats with no roots here, no long term investment, no business here, no partner, no kids or any of the other things that lead to a real bonding or emotional investment. Cambodia has always been a transitional expat place and there has always been and always been a bunch of people who just stop off for a year or two - there is nothing wrong with that - but then shit happens, they can always get the next flight out of here. Well Khmers can't do this and there is also a bunch of long term expats who are here for keeps and don't want to ;eave either.

Finally and most dangerously, if transient Western outsiders are pushing tactics and strategy in this campaign, my worry is how the government might react.The big fellah has already made hints about this. It could be that the cavalier actions of a smallish number of 'here today, gone tomorrow' libtard activists impact on the lives of many more settled expats and their families.

by **violet** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:07 am

it is uncomfortable to find myself agreeing with KIR yet again.

by jm » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:38 am

Agree as well .

As to LTO's comments re putting kids in harms way, Khmers commonly put their half asleep unhelmeted kids on the back of motorbikes. Just a reminder.

by **vladimir** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 7:52 am

I don't condone what happened to the kids in any way, but who the hell put them there? OK, so if they didn't put them there, surely one of the democrat barangs who is so concerned with human right should have been aware of the danger...or were they hoping for a juvenile casualty to further their cause?

These people need to be identified. The fact that no one seems to know who they are is going to cause big problems for expats.

by **Jacked Camry** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 8:47 am

vladimir wrote:These people need to be identified. The fact that no one seems to know who they are is going to cause big problems for expats.

I know some of them. As KiR said, they're primarily young and idealistic short-timers doing voluntary work for NGOs. What is it you intend to do once they're identified, Vlad? And why would the protests by these kids impact on the expat population? I think the Cambodian authorities are reasonably competent at seeing the difference between 20-somethings in coordinated t-shirts and the grizzled old prowlers like myself who live in Cambodia long-term.

by **LTO** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:16 am

Interesting, voluntourism strikes again. After playing a major role in creating and nurturing Cambodia's orphan industry, they're refocusing their efforts onto political pot stirring. And like all the orphans they're efforts helped create with their short ego-stroking visits, they won't be around to partake of whatever consequences their hit and run political activities may have for Cambodia and Cambodians.

by **flying chicken** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 9:23 am

I second LTO's 1st post. Ordinary Khmers know fully well that being overly aggressive during protest will not end well, and the big Boys intend to keep it that way -- the "dont fuck with me, or you will get fucked". The cops who beat up the pregnant woman and the kids was doing their job, either they don't do things as commanded or that will get shits from their bosses.

With that said, I am not suggesting people should stop protest but be prepared to get hurt if being aggressive.

by **Lucky Lucan** » Thu Jun 28, 2012 10:07 am

keeping_it_riel wrote:It's fantastic that the 13 are now out and less fantastic that the convictions were not quashed but do you think that this was decided before or after today's demo? My best guess is before.

I'd agree that it was most likely decided before the demo. However, those barangs protesting probably think it was their actions that got the 13 freed. As far as I know the 13 haven't had any charges against them dropped anyway, they are just "on bail" or something similar.