AROUND 30 people from Kampong Chhnang province’s Phsar Chhnang commune protested yesterday outside the provincial courthouse, accusing police and fisheries officials of destroying their fishing equipment. Sim Born, 47, of Phsar Chhnang’s Samrong village, said members of his community had traditionally paid police in order to fish out of season. On Tuesday, however, police confiscated and destroyed the fishing equipment of local residents and asked them to pay fines, Sim Born said. Hay Monorom, governor of Kampong Chhnang town, said he was unaware of any arrangement that allowed villagers to fish out of season.