US alerts citizens in Cambodia to be vigilant over ongoing protests

The U.S. Embassy to Cambodia on Friday advised its citizens residing in or traveling to Cambodia to be vigilant over ongoing political protests in the country. "Daily protests organized by the political opposition continue in Phnom Penh at the Freedom Park with marches through the central part of the city often disrupting traffic on major north-south and east-west streets," the statement said. "The opposition has called for large-scale participation in these events on Sundays for at least the next several weeks." Besides, it said, separate marches by protesting factory workers have been reported in front of the airport and on other roads leading into Phnom Penh. Additionally, large protests have occurred sporadically in other sections of the country, including the tourist center of Siem Reap. "Although recent political gatherings in Cambodia have been largely nonviolent, even demonstrations or events intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and escalate into violence without warning," the statement said. "The U.S. Embassy encourages you to avoid large crowds and immediately leave any area where crowds are gathering." Since Dec. 15, the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has launched a new round of daily protests and led thousands of supporters through streets in capital Phnom Penh to demand Prime Minister Hun Sen's resignation and hold a re-election following allegations of serious irregularities during the July's election. In addition, tens of thousands of garment workers have gone on strikes nationwide since Wednesday after the government decided to raise a monthly minimum wage in the garment sector to 95 U.S. dollars from April onwards from the current 80 U.S. dollars, but the pro-opposition trade unions said the increase was too low to accept. CNRP's President Sam Rainsy and his accomplices have incited protesting workers to join his anti-government protests. On Thursday, he led around 18,000 striking garment workers and anti-government activists through streets in the capital in order to call on Prime Minister Hun Sen to step down and hold a re- election. "If the CNRP comes to power, we will increase the worker's wage to 160 U.S. dollars per month," Sam Rainsy promised with protesting workers. Hun Sen said last Friday that he would neither step down nor call a re-vote since he has done nothing wrong.