Prime Minister Hun Sen will not allow Freedom Park to stay at its current location and says it will be moved to a new location along National Road 5 in Russey Keo district, drawing the dismay of civil society and others who use the park.
Mr. Hun Sen said yesterday at a ceremony for the 18th Cambodian Disabled People’s Day that Freedom Park – a venue created for public gatherings to ensure freedom of expression and assembly – cannot be kept in the center of the capital anymore because it creates disorder at its current location.
“Samdech Krala Hoam [Deputy Prime Minister Sar Kheng] is requesting Mr. Pa Socheatvong, the city governor, to find a new place for Freedom Park which is possible along the National Road at Kilometer 6. We made a garden and a place for disabled people to perform as well,” he said.
“So we make it at this location, and if no one likes the change, we can put it in front of the US embassy, because the US likes to support protests. This is our right as the authority.”
City Hall spokesman Met Meas Pheakdey told Khmer Times yesterday that the Phnom Penh municipality planned to write a letter to the government through the Interior Ministry to request the change and City Hall would organize the project if approved.
He said the park would move to the new place near Kilometer 6 in front of a Sokimex warehouse, not far from the old location.
“City Hall has not yet determined the date for opening Freedom Park’s new location because we have to submit a request to the Interior Ministry in advance. We will prepare if it’s approved, but we have not considered the opening at this time,” said Mr. Meas Pheakdey. He added that the size of the new Freedom Park is larger than the old location and City Hall considers it to be better, with more space and less impact on people in the surrounding area.
Mr. Meas Pheakdey said although the location of park will change, the principles on which Freedom Park was created would still stand.
He said he supported Mr. Hun Sen’s decision because it considered the interests of citizens as well as the residents who live near Freedom Park.
However, civil society officials expressed concern over Freedom Park’s change in location, saying it would take more time to travel there and would create other problems.
Am Sam Ath, a senior coordinator at rights group Licadho, said the park should remain at the same location to allow people easy access to both the park and the government institutions where they would likely be submitting petitions.
“If Freedom Park is moved to a far place, it will cause long journeys, traffic jams and other problems that have a serious impact. It should be located near institutions that people want to protest at or submit their petition,” he said.
He added that if the place for freedom of expression was far, people’s concerns would not be heard and their problems would not be solved.
Mr. Sam Ath acknowledged it was the government’s decision, but said civil society and citizens wanted Freedom Park to remain in the same place.
Acting director of the Cambodian Independent Teachers’ Association Ouk Chhayavy, who brings teachers from the provinces together at Freedom Park in October every year to celebrate Teachers’ Day, also expressed dissatisfaction.
“The prime minister decided to change this place because he wants to develop it into something or sell or exchange this location to wealthy people to do something,” she said.
“Changing to a far location is to make it difficult for people, teachers and workers who come to express or demand their rights through protest.”
Ms. Chhayavy added that the change was up to the premier, but said that as a citizen, she was unsatisfied with the decision without clear policy behind it.
“We do not applaud the wrong decision by Mr. Hun Sen. Please consider first before doing something that could affect citizens,” she said.
Freedom Park, located in Daun Penh district, opened on November 4, 2010, with 1,200 square meters of space for people or organizations to gather for protests or strikes. Activities at the park were temporarily suspended in early January 2014, but it reopened in August that year.
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