International Workers' Day 2014

international workers' day - plans and key locations

Good morning and welcome to our coverage of International Workers’ Day. In anticipation of today’s celebrations, authorities yesterday closed off Freedom Park, where some of the events are scheduled to take place. Razor wire, caged trucks and fences were put in place to block a small gathering and the park has since been inaccessible to the public.

Since January 4, 2014 when a ban on all public gatherings and marches was announced by the Ministry of Interior there have been regular attempts to demonstrate in Freedom Park and other parts of the city. Many of them have been prevented by authorities using violence.

As of last night, groups were still calling for people to assemble at the park, however, unions have also announced an alternative plan to gather at the National Assembly from where they will march to the headquarters of the Cambodian People’s Party (CPP) and the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP).

Also this morning, CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha plan to visit the Canadia Industrial Park on Veng Sreng Road to commemorate the deaths of the men who were killed there on January 3, during violence between striking garment workers and the authorities.

Updated at 07:11 ICT

Barricades and razor wire remained in place overnight at Freedom Park.

In front of the Canadia Industrial Park on Veng Sreng Road, arrangements are being made for the ceremony to commemorate the workers who were killed there on January 3. Workers are beginning to gather and CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are due to arrive at 8am.

Updated at 07:18 ICT

Entry to the road in front of the National Assembly, where unions had planned to gather, has just been blocked with fences.

Mu Sochua has arrived in front of the Canadia Industrial Park on Veng Sreng Road and is addressing a crowd of about 250 workers.

Updated at 07:35 ICT

Around the corner from the National Assembly, where unions were due to gather this morning, a small group of mostly female workers is standing and holding signs which say that labour is good for the nation and that the government should take care of its people's welfare.

Updated at 07:41 ICT

Freedom Park remains blocked by large barricades but workers are beginning to gather on the roads just outside the park.

Freelance journalist Abby Seiff is at the park watching as people gather.

Happy May Day. Plenty of cops and people gathering on corners a block away from Freedom park where 7 ft barriers up pic.twitter.com/dogXUCKkYx

— Abby Seiff (@instupor) May 1, 2014

The crowd at Freedom Park is growing slowly but steadily. As people arrive, they are met by a heavy police presence.

Updated at 07:51 ICT

Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha arrive at Veng Sreng Road

CNRP leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha have arrived in front of the Canadia Industrial Park on Veng Sreng Road for the ceremony to commemorate the workers killed there on January 3.

show of force on Veng Sreng road

Hundreds of military police have left their Phnom Penh headquarters and are walking on Veng Sreng Road towards the CNRP event at which the party leaders Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha are holding a ceremony to commemorate workers' deaths on January 3.

The military police are currently keeping their distance. Armed soldiers from Brigade 70 are also patrolling the road in military trucks.

Freelance journalist Kevin Doyle is on site.

Small unit of Brigade 70 troops with assault rifles and jeeps parked just off Veng Sreng street in Phnom Penh garment factory zone #May Day

— Kevin Doyle (@doyle_kevin) May 1, 2014

Updated at 08:26 ICT

crowds build up at three sites

Gatherings are taking place in three parts of the city:

• At Veng Sreng Road, where CNRP leaders are holding a ceremony, there are 5-600 workers
• At the National Assembly there are at least 600 people, including a dozen monks, at two different barricades
• At Freedom Park there are more than 100 people.

Yesterday, government controlled online Khmer news service CEN reported on the ban on the gatherings. Here is a summary of the report in English:

Yesterday the Phnom Penh municipality issued three separate letters to unions, the CNRP and the National Election Committee (NEC). The letters state that demonstrations and election campaigning at Freedom Park are not allowed. In the letters, Khoung Sreng, deputy governor, stated that gatherings at the park are banned pending investigations of the January 2014 clashes at Veng Sreng road and because authorities need to prepare security ahead of the district elections. He also added that unions and CNRP can do their own events at their private property without marching. He told CNRP that there is no need to use Freedom Park as this election is just a district election. In the letter to NEC, Pa Socheatvong explained about the preparation for security ahead of the upcoming election campaign. In the letters he warned that action would be taken against all unlawful activities.

To read the whole story in Khmer click here

Updated at 08:28 ICT