Phnom Penh now has its own Demonstration Square, where landless squatters and other

demonstrators are welcome to display their distress away from the public gaze.

Late last month, the Phnom Penh municipality removed landless protesters and Sam

Rainsy Party activists from the park in front of the National Assembly that has long

been a gathering point for all kinds of demonstrators.

Now, farmers protesting against land grabbing are no longer allowed to camp in the

park. In stead they can stay at a barren plot of land at the very end of the road

near the Naga Casino.

First to set up camp on the new location was a group of 250 landless farmers from

Koh Kong and Kompong Thom provinces.

Earlier this year, police burned down the houses and shacks of several squatters

who had lived on this land for years. The municipality was reportedly planning to

turn the location into a new park.