Cambodian police stand guard as demonstrators sit in front of the Independence Monument in Phnom Penh. More than 1,000 Cambodian workers defied a police ban on demonstrations and marched into downtown Phnom Penh to celebrate May Day(AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)PHNOM PENH (AFP) - More than 1,000 Cambodian workers defied a police ban on demonstrations and marched into downtown Phnom Penh to celebrate May Day.
Labour leader Chea Mony, who was briefly detained as police blocked thousands of protesters from entering the city, was released and joined a rally near the site where his brother, union boss Chea Vichea, was killed in 2004.
Carrying wreaths and pro-labour posters, a crowd of more than 1,000 demonstrators cheered the slain unionist as a "hero of the workers" before trying to march on the parliament building.
Police used their motorcycles to block their path, but the marchers began a stand-off, led by opposition leader Sam Rainsy, Chea Mony and Kem Sokha, who has emerged as one of the strongest pro-democracy voices in Cambodia.
"Our country still has no proper democracy and still doesn't obey human rights," Sam Rainsy told demonstrators.
"Today Cambodia shows disrespect to our workers ... the government should not act like this," he said.
The protesters, mostly garment factory workers, were demanding higher wages and a shorter work week. There were also calls for the price of gasoline to be reduced from its current record high of one dollar per litre.
Workers had also gathered outside Chea Mony's offices in the capital while others were dispersed by security forces as they tried to rally outside the parliament.
Interior ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the workers would be allowed to demonstrate 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 teachers' union leader 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.
Before being seized by security forces, Chea Mony told workers "the police are acting like Pol Pot", referring to the infamous leader of the Khmer Rouge regime that 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.
Labour leader Chea Mony, who was briefly detained as police blocked thousands of protesters from entering the city, was released and joined a rally near the site where his brother, union boss Chea Vichea, was killed in 2004.
Carrying wreaths and pro-labour posters, a crowd of more than 1,000 demonstrators cheered the slain unionist as a "hero of the workers" before trying to march on the parliament building.
Police used their motorcycles to block their path, but the marchers began a stand-off, led by opposition leader Sam Rainsy, Chea Mony and Kem Sokha, who has emerged as one of the strongest pro-democracy voices in Cambodia.
"Our country still has no proper democracy and still doesn't obey human rights," Sam Rainsy told demonstrators.
"Today Cambodia shows disrespect to our workers ... the government should not act like this," he said.
The protesters, mostly garment factory workers, were demanding higher wages and a shorter work week. There were also calls for the price of gasoline to be reduced from its current record high of one dollar per litre.
Workers had also gathered outside Chea Mony's offices in the capital while others were dispersed by security forces as they tried to rally outside the parliament.
Interior ministry spokesman Khieu Sopheak said the workers would be allowed to demonstrate 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 teachers' union leader 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.
Before being seized by security forces, Chea Mony told workers "the police are acting like Pol Pot", referring to the infamous leader of the Khmer Rouge regime that 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.
2 comments:
Thank you to all of the protesters , thank gods,.. I wish all our khmer should be there to show them.. to let the communist governments and the red head king..boy to girl..know, that we the cambodians or khmer can't stand anymore..about this situations, the abuse labor of the innocents workers. the big enterprises and the big companies, buy the head of the governments, and the the king, the nobrainer!..
all he did just sleep and eat, thats' all; his job of oversee the country. Luckily the innocents workers have a gut to do, what they feel it is right to exercise their freedom, otherwise they, the big coorperations will drag to many long years just for their profit, and to feed their animals, the communist governments, the cpp.. the slave of the vietcong and the new and old king, the slve of the korea, and chinese..so what now...the will of the people must go on... just for the khmer future .. we can not depend up ont this undeducated governments.. and they never help the khmer or the cambodians....instead they just the
slave of the tycoons, who just wanted to destoy khmer and the khmer land, thats' all.. if you wanted to know more about these puppets, and the slave king ..just do more reseach....you will find millions reasons. Last , well thanks all.. you did a great job, to fight and to defend your right!
These polices should work on illegal youns in Cambodia is better and can reflect their reputaion.
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