Activists against anti-NGO law march in Cambodian capital

Approximately 300 anti-NGO (Non- Governmental Organization) law activists marched from four different locations in suburban Phnom Penh to rally in front of the National Assembly on Tuesday despite a ban from the government.

"It is the fourth time we hold such a protest in order to call for the National Assembly to scrap the NGO draft law," Am Sam Ath, technical supervisor for rights group Licadho, told reporters at the event, claiming that the law aimed to impose restrictions on the freedoms of NGOs and associations.

Phnom Penh Municipal spokesman Long Dimanche said anti-riot police had been deployed to block protesters from marching to the National Assembly, however, some ignored the ban and kept moving toward the National Assembly.

"They marched through streets without asking for permission from the City Hall, so we have to prevent them," he told Xinhua via telephone, adding that there was no report of any clashes between security personnel and protesters.

A handful of protesters were detained, but released after they signed letters promising to stop their outlawed protests, he said.

Prime Minister Hun Sen's cabinet passed the draft law on NGOs and Associations earlier this month and the draft legislation is currently awaiting approval from the National Assembly.

Under the draft bill, NGOs and associations will be required to register their nationalities with the Cambodian government in order to have legal standing and are required to file reports on their activities and finances each year to the government.

The bill has drawn criticism from some foreign diplomats, including from the United States, and United Nations agency representatives. They expressed their concerns that the law would restrict the freedoms of NGOs.

According to the government figures, currently, there are some 5,000 NGOs and associations in Cambodia, including 411 international organizations. Endi