By Kuch Naren
THE CAMBODIA DAILY
Some 200 police officials prevented more than 1,500 mostly female garment factory workers from marching to the National Assembly on Tuesday morning to protest the firings of four union officials at two factories in recent weeks.
Police, some of whom were carrying AK47s, were seen beating about six protesters with truncheons and shocking them with electric batons as they broke up the workers' march in Meanchey district at 9:30 am, while several protestors hurled rocks at officials.
Ath Thon, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union and march organizer, said four protesters were seriously injured by police violence and 15 more sustained minor injuries.
"I am preparing a complaint against municipal police, Meanchey district police and district governors over their violent activities in cracking down on and dispersing workers," he said.
Ath Thon said that he, too, was shocked in the back, leg and shoulder by a police officer with an electric baton.
Municipal Police Commissioner Touch Naruth said police stopped the marchers because their protest was illegal.
The police operation ensured security in the capital and prevented traffic jams, he said, adding that if workers have grievances they should sue their factory owners.
"It is their right to file a complaint but I have my own duty to crack down as well because it is an illegal protest," he said.
"I would be blamed by my top leaders if I failed to crack down," he added.
Several intervention police officials were injured when they were hit by flying rocks, he claimed.
Nou My, a 33-year-old worker at the Golden Crown factory, said he was shocked with an electric baton, and accused the police of beating protestors like animals.
"We march because we need our leaders, who have been fired from work without reason, to help us, and we need to improve union freedom," he said.
Heang Ren, a 28-year-old worker at South Be garment factory, who claimed he had been fired without reason along with three other union members, said he was also beaten.
"We are not marching to increase instability, but because we need union freedom," he said.
Officials at the two factories could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
Police, some of whom were carrying AK47s, were seen beating about six protesters with truncheons and shocking them with electric batons as they broke up the workers' march in Meanchey district at 9:30 am, while several protestors hurled rocks at officials.
Ath Thon, president of the Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers Democratic Union and march organizer, said four protesters were seriously injured by police violence and 15 more sustained minor injuries.
"I am preparing a complaint against municipal police, Meanchey district police and district governors over their violent activities in cracking down on and dispersing workers," he said.
Ath Thon said that he, too, was shocked in the back, leg and shoulder by a police officer with an electric baton.
Municipal Police Commissioner Touch Naruth said police stopped the marchers because their protest was illegal.
The police operation ensured security in the capital and prevented traffic jams, he said, adding that if workers have grievances they should sue their factory owners.
"It is their right to file a complaint but I have my own duty to crack down as well because it is an illegal protest," he said.
"I would be blamed by my top leaders if I failed to crack down," he added.
Several intervention police officials were injured when they were hit by flying rocks, he claimed.
Nou My, a 33-year-old worker at the Golden Crown factory, said he was shocked with an electric baton, and accused the police of beating protestors like animals.
"We march because we need our leaders, who have been fired from work without reason, to help us, and we need to improve union freedom," he said.
Heang Ren, a 28-year-old worker at South Be garment factory, who claimed he had been fired without reason along with three other union members, said he was also beaten.
"We are not marching to increase instability, but because we need union freedom," he said.
Officials at the two factories could not be reached for comment Tuesday.
2 comments:
man if the people have call me up to run the strike I would have the police wrap up and send back to the ah hun sen home.
Fucken tax holiday for these factory? I thought tax holiday was given to these factory owners for agreeing to set up their factory in Cambodia in the first place!
Let me guess if these majority of these Chinese factory owners don't like to pay Cambodian people a living wage, I suggest that these Chinese factory owners move their factory to Africa!
Post a Comment