Original reports from Phnom Penh & Washington
29 November 2007
Police with rifles, tear gas, shields and electric batons put down a strike of 2,000 workers from a garment factory in Kandal province Thursday, leading to two serious injuries and the arrest of four protesters, workers and rights investigators said.
"The police accused us of disturbing public order or causing a traffic jam," said Yang Sarann, vice-president of Cambodian Garment Workers Democratic Union.
When police seized a microphone from workers demonstrating with a list of demands for the Fortune Garment and Woolen Knitting Company, a group of workers fought to take the microphone back, he said.
"It was probably a dozen who were snatching around with the authorities," he said. "So, [police] came over to fight, shock and handcuff."
Saang District Police Chief Moam Pich declined comment Thursday, as did Kandal Province Police Chief Iev Chamroeun.
Chheng Sophos, a rights worker for Licadho, said the workers had conducted a "peaceful strike."
"So, we are so sorry to see the authorities use violence to quell the strike, leading to some arrests," he said.
Striking workers and other protesters often clash with riot police, who use tear gas, electrical prods and, sometimes, water cannons to disburse assemblies.
This use of force to break up demonstrations is a serious rights violation, said Chan Saveth, an investigator for the rights group Adhoc who observed the strike.
"A crackdown by authorities on workers is very cruel, and it's imbalanced, as [demonstrators] have empty hands," he said.
Police seemed to have taken the side of Fortune Garment on Thursday, he said, speaking later as a guest on "Hello VOA."
Workers had been trying to push 12 demands, five of which had been solved at the time of the crackdown, he said. Instead of a resolution, workers were met with violence and a breech of their constitutional right to peaceable assembly, he said.
One caller to "Hello VOA" Thursday urged wider censure of "those who commit brutalities and just wait for orders like an automaton."
"The police accused us of disturbing public order or causing a traffic jam," said Yang Sarann, vice-president of Cambodian Garment Workers Democratic Union.
When police seized a microphone from workers demonstrating with a list of demands for the Fortune Garment and Woolen Knitting Company, a group of workers fought to take the microphone back, he said.
"It was probably a dozen who were snatching around with the authorities," he said. "So, [police] came over to fight, shock and handcuff."
Saang District Police Chief Moam Pich declined comment Thursday, as did Kandal Province Police Chief Iev Chamroeun.
Chheng Sophos, a rights worker for Licadho, said the workers had conducted a "peaceful strike."
"So, we are so sorry to see the authorities use violence to quell the strike, leading to some arrests," he said.
Striking workers and other protesters often clash with riot police, who use tear gas, electrical prods and, sometimes, water cannons to disburse assemblies.
This use of force to break up demonstrations is a serious rights violation, said Chan Saveth, an investigator for the rights group Adhoc who observed the strike.
"A crackdown by authorities on workers is very cruel, and it's imbalanced, as [demonstrators] have empty hands," he said.
Police seemed to have taken the side of Fortune Garment on Thursday, he said, speaking later as a guest on "Hello VOA."
Workers had been trying to push 12 demands, five of which had been solved at the time of the crackdown, he said. Instead of a resolution, workers were met with violence and a breech of their constitutional right to peaceable assembly, he said.
One caller to "Hello VOA" Thursday urged wider censure of "those who commit brutalities and just wait for orders like an automaton."
23 comments:
It is just like Burma. Hun Sen and his buddy are behaving the same way. If you protest against business that pays him or his corrupted government, you will be beaten. This type of dictator must be stopped. People have the right to protest if the situation is not fair to them.
Is this a true democracy or what?
Polices are just like Hun Sen’s dogs. They will attack under his leadership. I wish that the situation go to the army revolution against this corrupted government. Keep up with the protest.
Voice of the people will be heard.
Under this style of leadership of Hun Sen, Cambodia will not move forward. Hun Sen's leadership is to protect the rich and business tycoons.
To ban demonstration or quell demonstration violently like this because government is corrupted and meddling with businessman. They are bribed so that they side with rich bribers.
Vote for SRP if you are siding with Cambodian peoples, workers, farmers, and those weaker people.
Law is law. You must get permission before you can protest.
The police is doing the right thing to keep peace and order in the community.
Return to your work place.
6:32AM
I know the different between of democratic law and communist law.
Pol Pot also had their own law.
It is so sad to see national police are being used by mafia people to protect personal interest rather than to protect laws and orders. Workers stikes should be treated as normal in labour market between the employers and employees. Authority should stay out from these disputes. The employers should negociate their differences with employees representative for a solution. All employees are not slaveries. Therefore, police shouldn't use tehir force to make employees to work by suppresion their right. Police should play their role as Public security to make sure that both parties have used laws to work out their differences. Areak Prey
Look guys, what is the big deal in getting permission first. After all, it is for your own safety. As you know, there are lot of Ah Khmer-Yuons and Ah Khmer-Krohorms who love to throw grenades at a gathering to frame our government.
We are not against protest, but we want to be able top protect people from perpetrators. Is that a crime?
Just follow the law, regardless whether it is communist or democratic. Law is law.
Huh...this Viet troller/bullshitter @7:24AM goes back in to the closet dropping her nick MOI and becomes anonymous again? Damn....
7:24AM
Any grenade attack on the mass of demonstration because of the weak and lackey behavior of policemen of Cambodia, it it not because of permission regulation...and also protesters can instabilize the community or making traffic jam etc it is because of authority don't have intention to arrange place for them to protest those rich people.
Hun Sen leadership now protects only rich people, and is using national arm force as their tool to injure those weak protesters.
Dictator is using law permission as the excuse and legitimize their rights, but they have hard time to respecting of people's rights.
You should use your brain before you speak.
KY
Let 7:24AM express his feeling, so we know better about real face of Hun Sen and Ah Yuon.
You are welcome, 7:24AM.
Yeah, it is quite normal for you to find poor country lack of law enforcement, 8:05. That is why, for your own safety, you should let us know what are you going to do so that we can protect you properly. Keep in mind that we look bad every time you guys get killed.
I am bored with such violence made by the police. The police must obey legal orders but must disobey illegal orders, such illegal orders will not guarantee all of you and the workers are not you enemies. Please! Please! stop your such criminal acts.
true, 8:57 AM
very typical for poor country like Cambodia. we should expect people starving, dying, and suffered from lawless fake-democratic government under Hun Sen's GOD.
No, you got us mixed up with Ah Xam Frainsy because whenever people are starving to dead, Ah Xam Frainsy will treated them with democracy instead of foods. That's how fuck up he is.
If you only follow the rule of law, there would not be any problems. The problem precipitated when someone thought that they can challenge the law, instead found themselves in this horrible mess when the law was contravened and transgressed.
MOI
No, 12:25 PM, you crewed yourself.
Hun Sen is the GOD. What he says is right, the rest is wrong. Even Cambodian constitution is under his azzhole. That leads Cambodians to continue facing the same problems.
No one should be surprised, until the next person taken over the PM'ship.
And when will that be, 12:54, year 3008?
DEATH TO HUN SEN!
1:58 PM:
We are not afraid of death! Death is the inevitability. Everyone enevitably dies. What are you complaining about?
We only die once!
MOI
If you only do what you told to do, everyone would not be in this mess! But you chose and refused to work(like the rest of KI clients).
Return to work, no one will get hurt!
MOI
these workers have become your slaves already?
your head need to get checked, CPP Suckers!!
I decided to create a special
e-mail address; especially for all KI clients who are fearless will balls of steel to drop me your ideas and suggestions on how to improve our country’s economy for our next generation.
Of course CPP members are always welcome.
Here’s my address:
moicpp2008@yahoo.com
CPP 2008!
Anti-KI clients,
MOI
Perhaps some of the KI clients' need to be washed with soap for that profanity that's coming out from that stinking mouth.
The truth of the matter is you will never have a plausible debate or discussion here,because these people have problems with their mouth. That's why I decided to treat them like dirt.
MOI
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