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| Cambodian Police Clear Park Before Planned Protest | Cambodian Police Clear Park Before Planned Protest |
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| HONG KONG — Cambodian police officers on Saturday cleared protesters from a Phnom Penh park that has been staging ground for antigovernment demonstrations, taking action a day before a planned rally to call for the ouster of the country’s leader, Hun Sen. | |
| The officers skirmished with protesters as they forced them from Freedom Park, but the scene was more peaceful than a confrontation Friday in which four people were killed as the police fired on striking garment workers who were demanding higher wages. | The officers skirmished with protesters as they forced them from Freedom Park, but the scene was more peaceful than a confrontation Friday in which four people were killed as the police fired on striking garment workers who were demanding higher wages. |
| As the police cleared the park, workers dismantled a stage that was to be used for Sunday’s protest. Last week, a similar protest at the same location drew tens of thousands of people demanding that Mr. Hun Sen step down. | As the police cleared the park, workers dismantled a stage that was to be used for Sunday’s protest. Last week, a similar protest at the same location drew tens of thousands of people demanding that Mr. Hun Sen step down. |
| The week of protests represents a surprisingly robust threat to the rule of Mr. Hun Sen, whose party tightly controls the police, the military, the judiciary and much of the news media. In July, Mr. Hun Sen’s party claimed victory in disputed elections that the opposition and many independent monitoring organizations said were deeply flawed. | The week of protests represents a surprisingly robust threat to the rule of Mr. Hun Sen, whose party tightly controls the police, the military, the judiciary and much of the news media. In July, Mr. Hun Sen’s party claimed victory in disputed elections that the opposition and many independent monitoring organizations said were deeply flawed. |
| In Friday’s violence, protesters resisted police efforts to break up the demonstrations, and some threw homemade explosives, setting fire to vehicles, and pelted officers with rocks and other projectiles. As the street battles raged, the police fired live ammunition and smoke canisters to try to quell the disturbances. | In Friday’s violence, protesters resisted police efforts to break up the demonstrations, and some threw homemade explosives, setting fire to vehicles, and pelted officers with rocks and other projectiles. As the street battles raged, the police fired live ammunition and smoke canisters to try to quell the disturbances. |
| Chuon Narin, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, told The Associated Press that the people who were killed in Friday’s violence died when police officers in a southern suburb of the capital fired AK-47 automatic rifles to clear a road that had been blocked by protesters who were burning tires and throwing objects. | Chuon Narin, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police, told The Associated Press that the people who were killed in Friday’s violence died when police officers in a southern suburb of the capital fired AK-47 automatic rifles to clear a road that had been blocked by protesters who were burning tires and throwing objects. |
| “So far, three are confirmed dead, two injured, and two men were arrested by armed forces,” the deputy police chief said after the morning clash. | “So far, three are confirmed dead, two injured, and two men were arrested by armed forces,” the deputy police chief said after the morning clash. |
| Some of the protesters were armed with cleavers and machetes, and at one point they set fire to a health clinic that demonstrators said refused to treat the injured. | Some of the protesters were armed with cleavers and machetes, and at one point they set fire to a health clinic that demonstrators said refused to treat the injured. |
| One of the people who was shot, Ha Srey Oeun, 28, a garment worker, said she had not been taking part in the protests “because I’m four months pregnant and I was afraid I would be beaten up or struck.” | One of the people who was shot, Ha Srey Oeun, 28, a garment worker, said she had not been taking part in the protests “because I’m four months pregnant and I was afraid I would be beaten up or struck.” |
| “I just went to buy some food for lunch,” Ms. Srey Oeun said. “I don’t know why I got shot. I was very far away from the protest group.” | “I just went to buy some food for lunch,” Ms. Srey Oeun said. “I don’t know why I got shot. I was very far away from the protest group.” |
| Hospital officials said at least 23 people had been injured in the unrest. | Hospital officials said at least 23 people had been injured in the unrest. |
| Because of the violence, the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party withdrew on Friday from planned talks with the government that were aimed at trying to resolve the crisis. In pulling out of the talks, the group cited the violence against both the garment workers and monks taking part in the protests. | Because of the violence, the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party withdrew on Friday from planned talks with the government that were aimed at trying to resolve the crisis. In pulling out of the talks, the group cited the violence against both the garment workers and monks taking part in the protests. |
| “We condemn the act of violence against the monks, against the workers who are demanding the minimum wage of $160,” Yim Sovann, an incoming opposition lawmaker, told The Phnom Penh Post. The garment workers currently receive a monthly minimum of $80. | “We condemn the act of violence against the monks, against the workers who are demanding the minimum wage of $160,” Yim Sovann, an incoming opposition lawmaker, told The Phnom Penh Post. The garment workers currently receive a monthly minimum of $80. |
| The capital has been rattled by labor unrest in recent days, with labor leaders calling a national strike last week because of anger over the government’s latest minimum-wage proposal. The garment industry is Cambodia’s largest source of export earnings, and the labor movement to increase wages in the sector is closely aligned with the political opposition to Mr. Hun Sen’s government, providing a deep well of support for the demonstrations. | The capital has been rattled by labor unrest in recent days, with labor leaders calling a national strike last week because of anger over the government’s latest minimum-wage proposal. The garment industry is Cambodia’s largest source of export earnings, and the labor movement to increase wages in the sector is closely aligned with the political opposition to Mr. Hun Sen’s government, providing a deep well of support for the demonstrations. |