13 Released

After a month and three days of incarceration the release of the 13 prisoners was an impressive affair, starting off with clashes with the police which led to the miscarriage of Pov Srey Srah, a 3 months pregnant villager, after she received a blow to the stomach by a police officer.
Things calmed down after the initial unrest and the morning continued peacefully as families supporters and community members awaited the verdict from the Appeal Court.
Once the verdict was heard the 13 women at the court and the supporters waiting on the street as close to the court as the police would allow was a moment of euphoria.
Throughout the day and into the evening the extraordinary patience and dedication of the protesters and especially the families of the 13 women, never flagged.
The journey back from the prison, a triumphant parade, was possibly the single largest campaign by the Boeung Kak community. More than 50 motorcycles and tuk-tuks with megaphones and beeping their horns, drove the 20 km between the prison and Boeung Kak. Although there struggle is far from over, the fact that these 13 women have been reunited with their families and community is the most significant victory for the movement since the 12.44 hectare concession.