On 30 Nov 2007, opposition leader Sam Rainsy left a plenary session of the National Assembly to go to support some 2,000 workers on strike at Fortune Garment & Wollen Knitting Factory, in Roka Khpous commune, Sa'ang district, Kandal province (Photo: SRP)30 November 2007
By Kim Pov Sottan
Radio Free Asia
Translated from Khmer by Socheata
The Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) warns on Friday that a national strike will take place if there is no resolution for workers at the Fortune garment factory, following a violent breakup by the police against striking workers there.
Chea Mony, FTUWKC President, criticized the police breakup, calling it an inhumane violation of the law which will create a bigger problem, if the government still keeps on using this method.
Chea Mony said: “I am not threatening, sometimes, the workers are not happy about the Kandal police violence. They can hold a strike nationwide, nobody knows how the workers will react and no one knows how to prevent them from doing so. This is why we are calling on the Cambodian government, and in particular the Kandal provincial police, to refrain from using violence when it is not warranted.”
On Thursday, about 2,000 garment workers from the Fortune Garment and Woolen Knitting Company, located in Roka Khpous commune, Sa’ang district, Kandal province, have gathered to strike by refusing to work because the factory owner plans to fire 200 workers.
The strike was broken up by the Kandal provincial police who used tear gas, and shot several rounds on the striking workers. The breakup led to 3 injured workers and 4 workers representatives were arrested.
Chan Kiri, the Sa’ang district governor, said that the break up took place because the strikers throw objects at them first when the cops tried to ease up the traffic jam.
Since then, the 4 arrested workers representatives have already been released. Oum Visal, FTUWKC Secretary-general, declared that he will continue to send his complaint to the tribunal about the injuries caused on the workers during the police breakup.
Oum Visal said: “On our side, we don’t want to see any problem arising. Several workers have been injured, but the police usually charge the workers instead, it accuses the workers of using violence on the cops. In reality, the workers never use violence on the police before the police uses violence on the workers. Therefore, we ask the government to end this situation, in particular the use of guns to shoot and threaten the workers during strikes. Otherwise, it is a severe violation of the workers’ rights.”
Today, the workers are still continuing their strikes. On the other hand, Sok Hak, the deputy director of the Fortune factory, indicated his pleasure about the progress of the negotiations leading to a resolution with the workers.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who is holding the strike with the workers indicated that he cannot accept this violent type of police breakup, he will continue to observe the situation until a resolution can be found for the workers.
Chea Mony, FTUWKC President, criticized the police breakup, calling it an inhumane violation of the law which will create a bigger problem, if the government still keeps on using this method.
Chea Mony said: “I am not threatening, sometimes, the workers are not happy about the Kandal police violence. They can hold a strike nationwide, nobody knows how the workers will react and no one knows how to prevent them from doing so. This is why we are calling on the Cambodian government, and in particular the Kandal provincial police, to refrain from using violence when it is not warranted.”
On Thursday, about 2,000 garment workers from the Fortune Garment and Woolen Knitting Company, located in Roka Khpous commune, Sa’ang district, Kandal province, have gathered to strike by refusing to work because the factory owner plans to fire 200 workers.
The strike was broken up by the Kandal provincial police who used tear gas, and shot several rounds on the striking workers. The breakup led to 3 injured workers and 4 workers representatives were arrested.
Chan Kiri, the Sa’ang district governor, said that the break up took place because the strikers throw objects at them first when the cops tried to ease up the traffic jam.
Since then, the 4 arrested workers representatives have already been released. Oum Visal, FTUWKC Secretary-general, declared that he will continue to send his complaint to the tribunal about the injuries caused on the workers during the police breakup.
Oum Visal said: “On our side, we don’t want to see any problem arising. Several workers have been injured, but the police usually charge the workers instead, it accuses the workers of using violence on the cops. In reality, the workers never use violence on the police before the police uses violence on the workers. Therefore, we ask the government to end this situation, in particular the use of guns to shoot and threaten the workers during strikes. Otherwise, it is a severe violation of the workers’ rights.”
Today, the workers are still continuing their strikes. On the other hand, Sok Hak, the deputy director of the Fortune factory, indicated his pleasure about the progress of the negotiations leading to a resolution with the workers.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy who is holding the strike with the workers indicated that he cannot accept this violent type of police breakup, he will continue to observe the situation until a resolution can be found for the workers.
