Parade to mark slain unionist

Tuesday, 20 January 2009
Written by Meas Sokchea The Phnom Penh Post

Organisers still waiting for municipal approval.

THE Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) on Monday issued a press release calling for public participation in a commemorative parade scheduled for January 22, marking the day in 2004 that union leader Chea Vichea was killed in Phnom Penh.

"Chea Vichea did so much work for our nation, particularly by demanding more freedom and better conditions for the Kingdom's workers," Rong Chhun, president of the CCU, said in the press release.

He said Chea Vichea remains a potent symbol for many Cambodians, who honour his memory each year for sacrificing his life for the nation.

"We informed municipal authorities a week ago of our intention to hold this ceremony, but they have not yet responded. But we plan to go ahead with the event," said Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, and the brother of Chea Vichea.

Chea Mony said he expected about 300 people, including civil society groups and some politicians, to participate in the parade.

The event will start at the headquarters of the trade union in Phnom Penh's Boeung Keng Kang 3 district and end at the site of Chea Vichea's assassination near Langka pagoda, the press release stated.

Phnom Penh Governor Kep Chuktema could not be reached for comment on Monday, but Deputy Governor Pa Socheatevong said he could not provide details about whether the event would be approved by authorities.

The two men convicted of Chea Vichea's murder have been released pending a retrial.

Rong Chhun calls for Chea Vichea’s memorial

Chea Vichea's memorial in 2008 (Photo: Reuters)

19 Jan 2009
By Leang Delux
Cambodge Soir Hebdo
Translated from French by Tola Ek
Click here to read the article in French

Rong Chhun, Director of the Cambodian Federation of Unions, will commemorate the 5th anniversary of Chea Vichea’s death on 22 January 2009.

In a communiqué, Rong Chhun announced his desire to bring a flower bouquet to the spot where union leader Chea Vichea was assassinated on Pasteur Street in Phnom Penh.

“I informed the city hall about this ceremony, and it did not reply yet,” Rong Chhun indicated. In spite of this fact, Rong Chhun promised to organize this ceremony and he will also issue a call to the court to find and bring to justice the real killers.

As in the previous years, he did not send particular invitations to anybody beyond making a general appeal for people to attend this ceremony. He noted also, that every year, a MP from the Sam Rainsy Party were always present in the ceremony, if not Sam Rainsy himself.

On 22 January 2004, Chea Vichea was shot in full daylight while he was reading in front of newspapers kiosks along Pasteur Street. The two men arrested and sentenced for the case were not recognized as the true killers by NGO representatives, nor by Chea Vichea’s family and not even by King-Father Norodom Sihanouk. Following 5 years of time spent in jail, the two men accused of the murder received their provisional release on 31 December 2008. The Supreme court send the case back to the Appeal court asking it to review this case.