PHNOM PENH, CAMBODIA
For the second consecutive day, villagers united to protest against Mam Sonando’s arrest. For over 10 hours, protestors waited patiently in front of the barricades set up by police a few hundred meters away from the Municipal Court, while over a dozen witnesses testified on the so called ‘secessionists’ case.
To the surprise of many, the Sonando case has extended for days. In the past year, Cambodia has seen an increase on high profile cases where defendants have gone to jail after remarkably short hearings. Having over 40 witnesses to testify, the trial is expected to extend a third day at the least.
Despite the long days and many hours under the sun and rain, protestors persist on showing their unconditional support calling the attention of passers-by on what they claim is an unfair trial.
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A policeman looks through a whole in the wall killing time at the protest near the Municipal Court in Phnom Penh on the second day of Mam Sonando’s trial. © Erika Pineros 2012
Villagers and supporters of Mam Sonando burn incense and pray in front of the barricades set up by the police near the Municipal Court in Phnom Penh on the second day of Mam Sonando’s trial. © Erika Pineros 2012
Shadows of riot police can be seen. Armed forces were deployed to keep the crowd under control during a protest near the Municipal Court in Phnom Penh on the second day of Mam Sonando’s trial. © Erika Pineros 2012
A police truck with anti-riot equipment under the rain. Phnom Penh © Erika Pineros 2012
Protestors patiently wait under the rain for the court’s decision on Mam Sonando’s case. Phnom Penh. © Erika Pineros 2012
upporters of Mam Sonando burn incense and pray in front of the barricades set up by the police near the Municipal Court in Phnom Penh on the second day of Mam Sonando’s trial. © Erika Pineros 2012
Despite the rain, protestors patiently waited until after 6pm to hear a decision from the court on Sonando’s case. © Erika Pineros
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