Jan. 30
PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodian military police have
arrested at least 20 anti-Thai protesters following a night of
nationalist rioting in the capital, Phnom Penh's governor said
Thursday. "As far as I know, 20 protesters have been arrested,"
Chea Sophara told Reuters. "I could not believe or understand
why the incident happened. They must have had incitors behind
them." "I couldn't believe they burned down not only the hotels
but also the mobile phone company (owned by family of Thai
Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra)," he said, adding that the
number of arrests might have risen as police and military
beefed up security in the rubble-strewn streets.
Earlier, Thai military aircraft evacuated more than 500
terrified citizens after mobs of flag-waving Cambodian students
went on the rampage, torching first the Thai embassy and then
any businesses with a Thai connection, however tenuous.
The violence has sparked a diplomatic storm, with Thailand
recalling its ambassador, cutting economic and technical
cooperation and closing its land border to Cambodians.
Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen blamed small group of
extremists and said the violence had hurt relations with
Thailand.
photo credit and caption:
A Cambodian military policeman walks past a damaged car on the grounds of the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh January 30, 2003. Thailand's King Bhumibol Adulyadej stepped in to calm rising anti-Cambodian sentiment in Bangkok after hundreds of Thais were airlifted out of Phnom Penh following riots there. Photo by Chor Sokunthea/Reuters
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