CNRP Demonstration: Police REsponse

PHNOM PENH, Oct. 21 (Xinhua) -- The Phnom Penh Municipal Police of Cambodia conducted a special training at the capital's Freedom Park on Monday after the opposition set to stage a three-day mass protest from Wednesday against the results of the July's election that handed victory to Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party.

About 2,000 policemen, armed with shields and batons, joined the half-day training, said Gen. Chuon Narin, deputy chief of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police.

The training aimed to strengthen security forces'abilities in maintaining security, safety and public order for the city.

The training came after the opposition Cambodian National Rescue Party (CNRP) announced last week a three-day mass demonstration from Oct. 23 with 20,000 to 50,000 participants at the capital's Freedom Park. About 20,000 people will march to the United Nations office and several foreign embassies in Phnom Penh to submit a petition.

CNRP's lawmaker-elect Ho Vann said Saturday that the mass protest is to call for the United Nations intervention in the country's political crisis after the disputed elections in July.

He said on Oct. 23, the first day of the protest, which will coincide with the anniversary of the signing of the 1991 Paris Peace Accord, protestors will march to the U.N. office to submit a petition. On Oct. 24 and 25, they will march to the embassies of France, Japan, the United States, China, Indonesia, the United Kingdom and Australia.

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