The government has limited a scheduled opposition protest at the Vietnamese border to less than a tenth of its planned size.

Cambodia National Rescue Party MP Real Camerin said he had asked the Svay Rieng provincial governor to allow 1,500 protesters to march to border markers 202 and 203 in Kampong Ro district’s Thnort commune.

But Ros Pharith, director of administration in Svay Rieng, said that, following a meeting of officials in Phnom Penh on Tuesday, they had decided to limit the number of protesters to 100.

“The provincial authorities have limited the number of people to 100. The border zone is practically all paddy rice.

If they go and march there, it will affect the paddy rice of Vietnam and cause more problems,” he said. “We are all patriots.”

Camerin said he was committed to leading the march, despite the reduced numbers that would be allowed to attend.

He added that the senior minister in charge of border affairs, Va Kim Hong, had said last week that anyone wishing to visit the border posts would be allowed to do so.

Last month, Camerin and fellow CNRP MP Um Sam An took about 200 youths to the area to inspect the border.

The trip ended with a brawl between Vietnamese and Cambodians, leaving more than a dozen injured.

Interior Minister Sar Kheng in the meeting with Svay Rieng authorities on Tuesday warned them to curb the unsanctioned rental of land to Vietnamese interests.