Thousands of Cambodia opposition supporters march for Human Rights Day

Around 10,000 Cambodian opposition supporters took to the streets in the capital on Tuesday morning to celebrate the 65th International Human Rights Day despite a government ban on marching.

Sam Rainsy, president of the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP), led thousands of supporters to march from the party's southern headquarters to the Freedom Park as his deputy Kem Sokha and lawmaker-elect Mu Sochua walked with thousands of participants from the capital's western and northern parts, respectively to the Freedom Park, where they held the celebration.

Security forces had been deployed along streets to ensure security and public order, and they did not prevent protesters from marching even though Interior Minister Sar Kheng issued a statement on Sunday, banning the protesters from marching on streets.

Addressing to his supporters at the Freedom Park, Sam Rainsy said the celebration aimed to call for greater respect for human rights in Cambodia.

"We demand full respect for human rights and call for an end to vote fraud in future elections," he told the rally. "We need a real democratic society."

CNRP's vice President Kem Sokha reiterated that the party's lawmakers-elect would continue boycotting parliament if there was still no any appropriate solution to the alleged irregularities during the July's general election that handed victory to the Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party.

The half-day rally in Phnom Penh had ended without any trouble.

"There is no any report of clashes during their marches and rally," spokesman for the National Military Police Kheng Tito told Xinhua after the event. "Generally, the situation is good."

CNRP spokesman Yem Ponharith said the party would also hold a mass rally in the tourist city of northwestern Siem Reap province on Tuesday afternoon.

"Both Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha will fly to Siem Reap at noon time after the rally in Phnom Penh," he told Xinhua.

He said in Siem Reap, about 10,000 people will rally at the Angkor Kyung Yu recreation ground about 7 km away from the Angkor Wat Temple, a World Heritage site.

"The two leaders will also lead protesters to walk on streets in the Siem Reap city, but not marching to the Angkor Wat Temple," he said.

Besides the opposition's rallies, about 200 rights group non- governmental organizations also held the celebrations at the Phnom Penh's historical Wat Phnom site and in front of the National Assembly with around 6,000 participants.

On the Day, Prime Minister Hun Sen also met with about 3,000 people with disabilities at the capital's Diamond Island Center.