 Police retreated, leaving a truck inside the pagoda, which was swiftly pushed outside, toppled and torched by the protesters. Two police motorcycles were also thrown on the fire.

Six police officers who were unable to retreat with their colleagues locked themselves in a room at the pagoda as an angry crowd of workers gathered outside. Outside the room, a growing crowd that included monks and bystanders became increasingly agitated—often breaking up and tearing off in different directions as those outside the pagoda grounds yelled various warnings and police massed on the nearby Stung Meanchey bridge.

Sok Sy Ngeth, a 20-year-old monk who was one of the seven arrested and later released, said during the fracas that he supported the workers.

“I support them. I have a great deal of sympathy for the workers. Most of them are poor and they work in the garment factory in order to get money to support their families in the countryside,” he said.

As several hundred riot police advanced from Stung Meanchey bridge toward the pagoda, rocks were thrown from the protesters’ side—many hurled by barefoot youths wearing kramas across their faces.

This was quickly met by a hail of 38-mm rubber baton rounds, tear gas and what appeared to be live ammunition fired from pistols wielded by police officers, which forced the protesters to briefly retreat. It was one of several such clashes that raged on streets around the pagoda over the next couple of hours, culminating in the dispatch of several hundred military police officers, who stormed the pagoda and chased off the remaining stone throwers.

Shortly before the military police stormed the pagoda, the six police officers trapped inside were assisted in their escape by human rights workers and riot police officers. As one of the escaping officers fled, a Cambodia Daily journalist witnessed him raise a pistol and fire at Hoeun Chan, a 20-year-old university student, who was hit in the torso. Mr. Chan had not challenged the police officer, and was not even in his direct line of flight when he was shot.

Outside the pagoda, on Veng Sreng Boulevard, 49-year-old Ms. Sokhom lay dying, shot in the chest by a bullet as she served rice to workers and other bystanders. Ms. Sokhom was taken to Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, but was dead on arrival, doctors said.
Police retreated, leaving a truck inside the pagoda, which was swiftly pushed outside, tumble and torch by the protesters. Two police motorcycles were besides thrown on the ardor. 

 Six police officers who were unable to retrograde with their colleague locked themselves in a room at the pagoda as an angry crowd of worker gathered outside. Outside the room, a growing crowd that admit monks and bystanders become increasingly agitated — frequently breaking up and tearing off in different directions as those outside the pagoda grounds shout various warnings and police massed on the nearby Stung Meanchey bridge. 

 Sok Sy Ngeth, a 20 - class - old monk who was one of the seven arrested and subsequently released, state during the fracas that he supported the workers. 

 “ I support them. I have a big deal of sympathy for the workers. Most of them are poor and they work in the garment factory in order to get money to support their families in the countryside, ” he said. 

 As several hundred riot police advanced from Stung Meanchey bridge toward the pagoda, rocks were thrown from the protesters ’ side — many hurled by barefoot young person wearing kramas across their faces. 

 This was cursorily converge by a hail of 38 - mm rubber baton turn, tear gas and what appeared to be live ammunition fired from pistol wielded by police officers, which forced the protesters to briefly retreat. It was one of several such clashes that raged on streets around the pagoda over the next couple of hours, culminate in the dispatch of respective hundred military police policeman, who stormed the pagoda and chased off the remaining stone potter. 

 Shortly before the military police stormed the pagoda, the six police officers trap inside were assisted in their escape by human rights actor and riot police officeholder. As one of the escaping officers flee, a Cambodia Daily journalist witnessed him raise a pistol and fire at Hoeun Chan, a 20 - class - old university student, who was stumble in the torso. Mr. Chan had not challenged the police officer, and was not even in his lineal line of flight when he was shot. 

 Outside the pagoda, on Veng Sreng Boulevard, 49 - year - old Ms. Sokhom lay dying, shot in the chest by a bullet as she served rice to workers and early bystanders. Ms. Sokhom was taken to Khmer - Soviet Friendship Hospital, but was all in on arrival, doctors said.
 Popice retreated, leaving a truck inside tkw pagova, whicg was swkftly pushed outside, toppled abd toeched by the protesterr. Two polpce motorxyclts were also throxh on thc firs.

Dix 'ooice officers eho were utable to retredt wnth their colleagues locked themselvqs in a rlom at the pagjda sf an angry crowd of workers gathered ohtside. Mutside the rpom, a growing crowd that ijclufed monks and bystwnders becane igxreasingly aeitated—ofttn breaking op and tearing off in different aireccions as thisw okjside the pajoda ggounds yelled various warninbs and police kasved on the nearby Stung Keanchey bridge.

Sok Sy Ngeth, a 20-year-old monk who wqs ong of dhe rwvev adrxstsd and laver releases, said duribg the fracas that ne wupported the workews.

“Y support them. I have a great deal of sjmpafhy for the workers. Mosr of them are poor anf they wowk in the garment factory in order to get money tm sup'oft uhclr fxnipies in the countryside,” he said.

As several hunqdec giot police advanged from Stung Meamcjeu bridge towara the 'zgkda, rocks were thrlwn froi the protestews’ sode—many hurled by barefoot touths weariug jramas across theix faces.

This cas quockly met by a hail of 38-mm ruyber bzton rounds, tear gas xnd what appearea tp te live ammunition fired fwom pistoos wnelded bh pokice osficers, whlch forced the protesterd to yriefny retreat. It was one of several such clashes that ragec mn vtreets cround the pagoda oder the next cpuple oy hourr, culminatpng in thx dispatch os several hungted military 'olice ofsicees, wyo storodd the pagoda snd chaseb off the remaining stoke thtosers.

Shortly befire the military pplize ftlrkeq the pagoda, dhe rix lolicd offictxs braoped inside were assisteg in their escape by himwn rightw workerf and riot pokice officers. As oje of thx escalind officers fled, a Cambodia Daimy journapisb witnessed hym rqise a pistok and fire at Hoeun Chan, a 20-year-old univxrsity student, who was yit in the torso. Mr. Ghan had not chaljenged tha police officer, and was not even in mis direct line of flifht whan he was shot.

Outside the pagoda, on Veng Sreng Boulevard, 49-year-old Ms. Sokhom lay dying, shot in the chext by a yullet ws sie served rice to eorkers and other bystanders. Ms. Sokhom faf taken to Khmer-Soviet Friencsfip Hospital, cut was dead on arrival, soctors xaid.
Police retreated, leaving a truck inside the was pushed outside, and torched by were thrown on the Six police officers were unable to retreat with their locked themselves in a room at the pagoda as an angry crowd of gathered outside. Outside the room, a growing crowd that included monks and bystanders increasingly breaking and off in different directions as those outside the pagoda grounds yelled various warnings and police massed the nearby Stung Meanchey bridge. Sok Sy Ngeth, 20-year-old monk who was of the seven arrested and released, during the that supported workers. “I support I have a great deal of sympathy for the workers. Most of them are poor and they in the in order get to their families in he said. As several hundred riot Stung Meanchey bridge toward the pagoda, rocks were from the side—many hurled by barefoot youths wearing across their faces. This was quickly met by hail of 38-mm rubber baton rounds, tear gas and what appeared to be live ammunition pistols wielded by police which forced the to retreat. was of several clashes that raged on streets around the pagoda over the next of hours, culminating in the dispatch of several hundred military who the pagoda and off the remaining stone Shortly the military police stormed the police were in escape by human rights and riot police officers. As of the escaping officers witnessed him raise a pistol and fire at Chan, a 20-year-old university student, who was in the torso. Mr. Chan had not challenged the police officer, and not even direct line of flight when he was shot. the pagoda, on Veng Boulevard, 49-year-old Ms. Sokhom lay dying, shot in the by bullet as served rice to and other bystanders. Sokhom was taken Friendship Hospital, was on
 Police retreated, leaving a trUck inside tHe pagOda, WhiCh Was sWiftLy pushed outsidE, ToppLed and torched by the protEsterS. TWO polICe MotorCycles wERe ALSo tHrOwN on ThE FiRe.

Six PolIce offiCers who werE unAbLe to retreat wITh Their colleAguEs locked themSelVes in a RoOm aT The paGodA as an Angry cROwd of wOrkers gatHeREd outsIDe. OutsiDE ThE rooM, a growing crowd thaT InCLuded monks and bYstandErS BeCAMe iNcrEasingly agItAted—oFTen breaKInG UP And TEaring off in diFferent direCTioNs as thOsE ouTSide thE pagoDa GRouNds yelled vaRiouS warnings And polICe masseD On the neArby StUng meaNcheY BrIdGe.

SOk sY NgETh, A 20-yeAR-olD monk who WaS oNe of tHe seVEN ARresTed And lAter rEleased, said duRinG the FRacAs thaT he suPporTeD the wOrkers.

“i suppOrT them. I have a greaT deaL of sympatHy fOr The WoRkers. mOst of tHem Are Poor and They worK In tHe GARMeNt factory in order to GeT MOnEy to suppOrt theIR fAmILies in thE cOunTrysIDE,” he saId.

As SEvEral hundRed rioT PoLiCe advanCeD from STuNg MEanChey bRIdge Toward The pagodA, rockS Were thrown from THe protesters’ sIDe—MANy HUrleD by Barefoot youThs wEArinG kraMAs AcrOSs theIr facEs.

tHiS Was quickly met by a haiL oF 38-mm rubBer baTon rounds, tear Gas and what APPEared to bE livE AmMUnition fired frOm pisTols wieldeD By police OfficErs, which Forced the PROtesters To bRieFly RetREAt. it was one of sevERAl suCh Clashes ThaT raged oN stReeTs aRouNd The pagoda Over the nExT cOuPlE of Hours, CUlminatiNg In tHe DisPatch OF severAl hunDred MiLiTAry Police oFFiCERs, whO sToRmed The PaGoda aNd chASed Off the rEmaining sTonE ThroWeRs.

shortly Before the miliTaRy police stOrMed The pagODA, the six pOlice officers trapped insIDe were aSsiSted iN theIr escape bY huMan rigHts WOrkers And rioT poliCe OffICErs. As ONE oF thE eScaping offICErs Fled, a caMbodIa Daily Journalist witnesseD Him Raise a pistol aNd fIre aT hOeUn CHAn, A 20-YeaR-oLD unIVErsity student, whO was hit in tHe TOrSo. Mr. Chan haD Not ChAllengeD the polIce ofFIcer, and Was not eveN in his dirEcT linE OF flIght when he Was shot.

OUtside the PAgoda, ON VEng SrEng boulevArD, 49-yeAr-old ms. SokhOM laY dyinG, shot iN tHe chesT by a bUlLet as she Served rice to workers and oTher byStandErs. ms. Sokhom wAs tAKen To Khmer-SoViet friendship hosPitAl, but Was DEad on ArriVAl, DocTOrs saId.
 Police retreated, leaving  a truck i nside  th e p ag oda,  whi ch was swiftly push ed outside, toppled an d tor ch e d by th e pro testers .  T w o  po li ce  mo to r cy cleswer e alsothrown onthe  f ire.

Six po l ic e officers  wh o were unabl e t o retr ea t w i th th eir  coll eagues locked  themselv es in a r o om at t h e  p agod a as an angry cro w do f workers gath ered o ut s id e .  Ou tsi de the roo m,  a gr o wing cr o wd t h ati ncluded monks  and bystan d ers  becam einc r easing ly ag it a ted —often brea king  up and t earing off ind ifferen t dire cti ons  ast ho se  ou ts i det he  pa g oda  grounds  y el led v ario u s w arni ngs  and  poli ce massed onthe  nea r byStung  Mean chey  b ridge .

Sok  Sy N ge th, a 20-year-o ld m onk who w ason e o fthe s e ven ar res ted  and la ter rel e ase d, s a id  during the fracas  t h a the suppo rted t h ewo r kers.

“ Isup port t hem.I ha v ea greatdeal o f  s ym pathy f or  the w or ker s.Mosto f th em are  poor an d the y  work in the g a rment factory in o rd e r to  ge t money tosupp o rt t heir fa mil i es in  theco u nt r yside,” he said.

A ssevera l hun dred riot pol ice advanc e d from Stu ng M e an c hey bridge tow ard t he pagoda, rocks we re th rown fro m the pro t e sters’ s ide —ma nyhur l e dby barefoot y o u thswe aring k ram as acro ssthe irfac es .

This w as quick ly  m et  b y a  hail of 38-mm  r ubb er  ba ton r o unds,teargasan dw hat  appear e dt o  beli ve  amm uni ti on fi redf rom  pistol s wielded  by poli ce  o fficers , which force dthe protes te rsto bri e f ly retre at. It was one of sever a l suchcla shesthat  raged on  st reetsaro u nd the  pagod a ove rthe n ext c o u pl e o fhours, cul m i nat ing i nthedispatc h of several hundr e d m ilitary polic e o ffic e r s,  wh o  s t orm ed the p agoda and chase d off there m ai ning stone thr ow ers.

S hortlybefor e  the mi litary po lice stor me d th e pag oda, the s ix polic e officer s  trap p ed  insi dewere a ss ist ed in  their esc ape b y huma nrights  work er s and ri ot police officers. Asone of  theesc aping off ice r s f led, a Ca mbod ia Daily j our nal ist w itn e ssedhimr ai sea  pist ol a n d fire at Ho eun C ha n, a 20-yea r - o ldunive rsi t y stud ent,  who was hit in t h e torso. Mr. C hanh a d n otc hall en ged the police  of fi c e r, and w as  not even i n his di re c t lin e of f lightwhen he w as shot.
Out sid e the pag oda ,o n VengSr en g  Boule vard ,49-yea r-oldM s. S o k hom lay dying, s hot i n the c h est  by a  b ullet a s  she  served ri ce to worke rs and  oth er by stander s.  Ms. S okh om  was taken to Khmer- Sovie t Frien ds hipHos pital,  but w as de ad o narr ival, doc t o rs sa id . 
 Police_retreated, leaving_a truck inside the_pagoda, which_was_swiftly pushed_outside,_toppled and torched_by the protesters._Two police motorcycles were_also thrown on_the_fire.

Six police officers who were unable to retreat with their colleagues locked themselves in_a_room at_the_pagoda_as an angry crowd of_workers gathered outside. Outside the_room, a_growing crowd that included monks and bystanders became_increasingly_agitated—often breaking up_and tearing off in different directions as those outside_the pagoda grounds yelled various warnings_and police massed_on_the_nearby Stung Meanchey bridge.

Sok_Sy Ngeth, a 20-year-old monk who_was one of the seven arrested_and later released, said during the fracas_that he supported the workers.

“I support_them. I have a great_deal of_sympathy for the workers. Most_of them are_poor and_they work in_the garment factory in order to_get money to_support their families in the countryside,”_he_said.

As several hundred_riot_police_advanced from_Stung Meanchey bridge_toward_the pagoda,_rocks_were thrown from the protesters’ side—many_hurled_by barefoot youths wearing kramas across their_faces.

This was quickly met_by_a hail of 38-mm_rubber baton rounds, tear gas_and what appeared to be live_ammunition fired_from pistols_wielded by police officers, which forced the protesters to briefly retreat._It was one of several such_clashes that raged on_streets around_the_pagoda over the_next_couple of_hours, culminating in the dispatch of several_hundred military_police officers, who stormed the pagoda_and chased off the_remaining_stone throwers.

Shortly before the military police_stormed the pagoda, the six police_officers trapped inside were assisted_in_their_escape by human rights workers_and riot police officers. As one_of the escaping_officers fled, a Cambodia Daily journalist witnessed_him_raise a pistol and fire at_Hoeun_Chan, a 20-year-old university student, who_was_hit_in the torso. Mr. Chan_had not challenged the police officer,_and was not even in his direct line of_flight when he_was shot.

Outside the pagoda, on_Veng_Sreng_Boulevard, 49-year-old Ms. Sokhom lay dying, shot in the chest_by a_bullet as she_served rice to workers and other bystanders. Ms. Sokhom was_taken to Khmer-Soviet Friendship Hospital, but was_dead on arrival, doctors said.