Cambodia reopens Freedom Park after opposition swears into parliament

 

Policemen remove razor wire from the Freedom Park in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Aug. 6, 2014. The Cambodian authorities reopened the Freedom Park, a protest-designated site, a day after the opposition's 55 politicians were sworn in as lawmakers. Photo/Xinhua

PHNOM PENH (Xinhua) -- The Cambodian authorities reopened the capital's Freedom Park, a protest-designated site, on Wednesday, a day after the opposition's 55 politicians were sworn in as lawmakers.

Dozens of police officers were seen removing barricades and razor wires, which were deployed around the park since January following violent clashes between opposition protesters and government forces.

"Seeing that the situation of security, safety, and public order has been restored to normalcy, the Phnom Penh Municipality decides to reopen the Freedom Park from now on," the City Hall said in a statement.

The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP)'s 55 politicians took their oaths as parliamentarians on Monday, ending their 10-month long boycott of the parliament over disputed election results after Prime Minister Hun Sen's ruling party agreed to CNRP's proposals for an overhaul of the National Election Committee (NEC), power sharing in the parliament and a television channel.

The opposition lawmakers will work with the ruling party's 68 lawmakers to elect the leadership of the parliament and to amend the Constitution in order to enshrine the autonomy of a new NEC on Friday.
Sam Rainsy came to watch the re-opening of Freedom Park

Post by Oeur Narit.

Post by Prim Houn.