Nearly 40 people, predominantly women and girls, gathered outside the Council of Ministers to sing and dance for peace.

‘We are literally exercising our right to assemble peacefully and ask our politicians to honour our rights protected by Cambodia’s constitution to gather in a non-violent way,’ said Seng Reasey, 25, a co-organiser also involved in a 60-person silent ‘read-in’ of the constitution held at the riverside on Monday night.

Nearly 100 armed police officers manned Russian Boulevard during the pacifists’ performance, a necessary number according to a municipal police officer.

‘Citizens can’t protest this close to a ministry building,’ he said.

But according to a 45-year-old woman who asked not to be named for fear of inciting tensions at her workplace, the large police turnout was meant to intimidate citizens.

‘All these police here are crazy; we are unarmed Cambodians dancing for peace,’ she said, laughing as she began to dance.