A soldier was detained by military police yesterday afternoon after his involvement in a Boeung Kak lake protest in the capital.

National Military Police spokesman Kheng Tito would not say why authorities had detained the man at a city pagoda, but confirmed he had joined in a protest calling for the release of land activist Yorm Bopha.

“We think he has a mental problem,” Tito said. “He didn’t want to join, but followed the Boeung Kak people.… It’s not a serious problem.” He would be turned over to his commander today, Tito added.

Sia Phearum, from the Housing Right Task Force, said he had sent staff to military police headquarters to investigate. “Military police did not allow us to go in,” he said.

Phearum said the man had been interviewed by the media at the protest, claiming his rights had been abused, before protesters tried to usher him from officials as they tried to detain him.