Chea Mony greets supporters after arriving at Phnom Penh International Airport, 1 FebruaryPHNOM PENH : Cambodian labour leader Chea Mony was detained as police blocked thousands of workers from marching into downtown Phnom Penh to celebrate May Day, a union official said.
Chea Mony -- who heads Cambodia's largest labour organisation, the Free Trade Union of Cambodia -- was put in a police car and driven away after trying to negotiate with officers, said teachers' union boss Rong Chhun.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, who has emerged as one of the strongest pro-democracy voices in Cambodia, were both trying to free him, Rong Chhun told AFP.
"Our country still has no proper democracy and still doesn't obey human rights," Sam Rainsy said.
"Today Cambodia shows disrespect to our workers ... the government should not act like this."
Several thousand workers had gathered on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and were preparing to march downtown when they were stopped by police.
Some 300 other workers were gathered outside Chea Mony's offices in the capital, many carrying pro-labour posters, while another 100 were dispersed by security forces as they tried to rally outside the parliament building.
Another 100 workers were reportedly coming into the city in small groups on foot or by motor-taxi.
Heavy security could be seen on the streets around parliament and in front of Prime Minister Hun Sen's compound, near the site where Chea Mony's brother, labour leader Chea Vichea, was gunned down in 2004.
Elsewhere, fire engines had been rolled out and were prepared to use their water cannons on demonstrators, protesters told AFP.
Interior ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the workers would be allowed to gather at union offices, but would be prohibited from marching.
"In order to maintain security, we have asked them only to stay at their offices," he said.
He accused both Chea Mony and Rong Chhun of trying to politicise the May Day marches "so they can get more fame".
Both men fell afoul of the government last year, with Rong Chhun spending several months in jail and Chea Mony fleeing the country after they were charged with defamation.
Earlier in the day, Chea Mony told workers "the police are acting like Pol Pot", referring to the infamous leader of the Khmer Rouge regime, which killed up to two million people in Cambodia during the late 1970s.
Workers' rights in Cambodia have been spotty at best, but the country's largest employer, the garment sector, has pushed to market itself as a labour-friendly, socially responsible exporter.
Still, reports of forced overtime and abuses by factory bosses are common. Workers are pushing for a reduction in the length of the work week and for their monthly wages to be increased from 45 dollars to 80 dollars.
- AFP
Chea Mony -- who heads Cambodia's largest labour organisation, the Free Trade Union of Cambodia -- was put in a police car and driven away after trying to negotiate with officers, said teachers' union boss Rong Chhun.
Opposition leader Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, who has emerged as one of the strongest pro-democracy voices in Cambodia, were both trying to free him, Rong Chhun told AFP.
"Our country still has no proper democracy and still doesn't obey human rights," Sam Rainsy said.
"Today Cambodia shows disrespect to our workers ... the government should not act like this."
Several thousand workers had gathered on the outskirts of Phnom Penh and were preparing to march downtown when they were stopped by police.
Some 300 other workers were gathered outside Chea Mony's offices in the capital, many carrying pro-labour posters, while another 100 were dispersed by security forces as they tried to rally outside the parliament building.
Another 100 workers were reportedly coming into the city in small groups on foot or by motor-taxi.
Heavy security could be seen on the streets around parliament and in front of Prime Minister Hun Sen's compound, near the site where Chea Mony's brother, labour leader Chea Vichea, was gunned down in 2004.
Elsewhere, fire engines had been rolled out and were prepared to use their water cannons on demonstrators, protesters told AFP.
Interior ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the workers would be allowed to gather at union offices, but would be prohibited from marching.
"In order to maintain security, we have asked them only to stay at their offices," he said.
He accused both Chea Mony and Rong Chhun of trying to politicise the May Day marches "so they can get more fame".
Both men fell afoul of the government last year, with Rong Chhun spending several months in jail and Chea Mony fleeing the country after they were charged with defamation.
Earlier in the day, Chea Mony told workers "the police are acting like Pol Pot", referring to the infamous leader of the Khmer Rouge regime, which killed up to two million people in Cambodia during the late 1970s.
Workers' rights in Cambodia have been spotty at best, but the country's largest employer, the garment sector, has pushed to market itself as a labour-friendly, socially responsible exporter.
Still, reports of forced overtime and abuses by factory bosses are common. Workers are pushing for a reduction in the length of the work week and for their monthly wages to be increased from 45 dollars to 80 dollars.
- AFP
2 comments:
Got it Kheng and Sen now? You might be able to kill Vichea but not all of laboere.
Watch your turn men,your driver could just turn you into Tofu too.
What's wrong with you why can we celebrate your socialist fool labor day?
You men mark this,laborers got kins in police and armed force too.
You are playing with fire,UN and donors are watching...
Kiev Kannarith is always talking in nonsense. He uses lowest logic to credite himself and government.
His logic always serve foreign's interests...Mr.Kiev has virus aids in his brain now...
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