Labour hero’s statue to go up in capital

Chea Vichea

Wednesday, 18 July 2012
Buth Reaksmey Kongkea
The Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh Municipal Hall has granted its final approval, and construction will finally move forward on the long-proposed statue of slain labour rights crusader Chea Vichea, union officials said yesterday.

“According to Mann Senghak, an adviser to the Free Trade Union, which Vichea founded, the FTU will contribute US$8,000 to the effort and will begin construction as soon as possible.

The city, he said, pledged $5,000 towards building the 1.68-metre sandstone statue, which will be located in a park near Wat Lanka, just a short distance from where the activist was gunned down in 2004.

Chea Mony, Chea Vichea’s younger brother and current FTU president, lauded the city’s decision.

“Chea Vichea is a hero for garment workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia,” he said. “He had protested for workers’ rights, workers’ working conditions, and for increases in their pay until he was killed.

“It was a proud day for our people in the country as well as in the world,” Mony said.