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 Vichea commemoration

A girl stands behind a portrait of Chea Vichea, former president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of Cambodia, on the 8th anniversary of his death in Phnom Penh January 22, 2012. Chea Vichea was shot dead at a newsstand in central Phnom Penh in January 2004. REUTERS/Samrang Pring

People stand near a portrait of Chea Vichea, former president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of Cambodia, on the 8th anniversary of his death in Phnom Penh January 22, 2012. Chea Vichea was shot dead at a newsstand in central Phnom Penh in January 2004. REUTERS/Samrang Pring

Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of Cambodia, squats near a portrait of the late Chea Vichea, former president of the union, on the 8th anniversary of his death in Phnom Penh January 22, 2012. Chea Vichea was shot dead at a newsstand in central Phnom Penh in January 2004. REUTERS/Samrang Pring

Baingskol Ceremony for Chea Vichea in France on 24 July 2011

Chea Kimny, Chea Vichea's wife, and his 2 daughters

Baingskol Ceremony for Chea Vichea in France

What: Baingskol (Buddhist memorial) for Chea Vichea

When: 24 July 2011 at 9AM

Where:

Wat Buddharaingsey

124 Route Nationale

69330 Pusignan

France

Contacts:

Ly Poeung 06-68441333

Thay Makara 06-32581287

Peng Chhean Kunhour 06-20888450

In Remembrance of a Slain Hero, CHEA Vichea

In Remembrance of a Slain Hero, CHEA Vichea

A tribute to my friend assassinated 7 years ago this January 22 for his courage and his advocacy of democracy and labor rights.

We will never forget you.

WHO KILLED CHEA VICHEA?

An award-winning documentary film

Directed by Bradley Cox, produced by Rich Garella

1.  Screening at the University of Michigan, 14 January 2011

A film clip of Born Samnang accused by the Cambodian government of killing Chea Vichea, here paraded before the press corps by the Cambodian police.

Dr. Allen Hicken (director of University of Michigan’s Center for Southeast Asian Studies) introduces the panelists after the screening of Who Killed Chea Vichea?:  Theary C. Seng, Prof. Nick Rine, Prof. John Ciorciari

Theary C. Seng, Prof. Nick Rine (Univ. Mich. Law School), Prof. John Ciorciari (Univ. Mich. School of Public Policy) discussing the film and the current state of human rights and democracy in Cambodia.

Dr. Allen Hicken, Theary C. Seng, Dr. Dorasy Paul (a friend from Theary’s law school years who received her Ph.D. in anthropology at Univ. of Michigan), Kate Wright (program manager at Center for Southeast Asian Studies)  after the screening of Who Killed Chea Vichea?

http://www.thearyseng.com/random/265-january-2011-in-michigan-sudan-impossible-to-forget-phnom-penh

2.  Private screening in Manhattan, March 2010

Theary Seng with director Bradley Cox of "Who Killed Chea Vichea?" at Matt's Grill after a private screening of this brilliant labor of love!!  New York City, 25 March 2010.

Thursday, 25 March 2010  A.M.

I am very much looking forward to the private screening with director Bradley Cox later this afternoon here in Manhattan.

City restricts union march

Unionists march in 2009 to commemorate the fifth anniversary of the killing of union leader Chea Vichea. (Photo by: Heng Chivoan)

Thursday, 20 January 2011
Meas Sokchea
The Phnom Penh Post

Phnom Penh municipal authorities have granted permission for unionists to hold a march through the city in memory of slain unionist Chea Vichea, though they have imposed restrictions on where and how the group can assemble.

In a meeting at City Hall on Wednesday, Koeut Chhe, deputy chief of the municipal cabinet, said 250 members of the Free Trade Union would be permitted to participate in the march, but that they would not be permitted to carry banners make public statements.

According to a report of the meeting obtained today, Koeut Chhe also said the march would be barred from passing Prime Minister Hun Sen’s house near Independence Monument, and warned that the ceremony must not be used as a platform for FTU members to make political statements.

“If the participants do not respect the above conditions, the permit holder must be completely responsible before the law,” the report quoted Koeut Chhe as saying.

Tributes flow for union head

Crowds commemorate the fifth anniversary Thursday of the death of labour leader Chea Vichea, as they carry a portrait of the former Free Trade Union president and bouquets of flowers on a street in Phnom Penh. Photo by: AFP

Friday, 23 January 2009
Written by Khouth Sophak Chakrya and Sebastian Strangio
The Phnom Penh Post

Five years after his death, two men convicted of union leader Chea Vichea's killing pay respects at memorial march, calling for fresh investigations.

HUNDREDS of factory workers and civil society activists gathered Thursday for a commemorative march marking the fifth anniversary of the killing of outspoken trade unionist Chea Vichea - with participation this year from the two men convicted and imprisoned for his murder in 2004.

The event, organised by the Cambodian Confederation of Unions, began at 8am at the headquarters of the Free Trade Union of Workers (FTU) before marching to the site of Chea Vichea's assassination near Wat Lanka, where he was gunned down in 2004 while buying a newspaper.

"We hope the police and investigating judges will make an effort to investigate then arrest the real murderers and their accomplices," said Chea Vichea's brother and FTU President Chea Mony, welcoming the provisional release of suspects Born Samnang, 24, and Sok Sam Oeun, 36, on December 31.

"We have a small amount of justice due to the[ir] temporary release ... but we still have no real justice because the real murderers and their accomplices are living freely," he said.

The two men, released from prison pending retrial after the Supreme Court cited discrepancies in their case, joined civil society leaders in laying wreaths next to a portrait of Chea Vichea and issuing calls for an independent investigation into the labour leader's death.

"I am very happy that I have opportunity to pay my respects to the spirit of Chea Vichea," Born Samnang told reporters.

"I want to tell the people and the international community that I am not a killer. I hope the government will not allow the criminals to continue their activities against the people of our country."

Sok Samouen's father, Von Vann, 65, said the support of civil society and those close to Chea Vichea had helped secure their release.

"My son was released from prison because NGOs and Chea Vichea's family strongly believe he is not the killer. I hope the police and the court will arrest the real murderers soon so my son and Born Samnang will be stripped of their charges," he said.

"They are not real murderers. They are plastic murderers set up by the police."

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, also present at the march, called on US President Barack Obama to help bring the killers to justice.

"I want a full, serious investigation into this murder," he said.

Although there was a small police presence during the march, Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association, said in his speech that police had been employed to block traffic and did not engage in the "victimising" tactics of past years.

"From now on, we hope the authorities, including the police and military police, will not use electric batons and their gun-points to ‘protect' peaceful protesters," he said.

Rehabilitated

Although Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are technically guilty of Chea Vichea's murder - both were convicted of the crime by a Phnom Penh court in 2004 - Chea Mony vouched for their innocence and welcomed their presence at the event.

"We are happy to welcome [their] families to the five-year commemoration of my brother's death," he told the Post.

"They are not the real murderers. They are plastic murderers set up by the police to confuse the eyes of national and international observers."

However, as the Court of Appeal and Ministry of Interior prepare to reopen the investigation, some observers are divided on whether their provisional release - a first for Cambodia's judiciary - can be seen as an indication of growing independence, or a brief diversion from the standard of judicial interference.

US embassy spokesman John Johnson said the US government had hopes it was a step in the right direction.

"We welcome the serious and thorough way the Supreme Court Panel reviewed their cases," he said by email. "We presume [it] will guide the Appeals Court in their further work."

He also expressed hopes the court would "resolve this matter in a way consistent with Cambodian law and international standards of due process".

But others said that the decision could easily be reversed.

"They are on bail, meaning that they could be arrested at any time," said Mu Sochua, deputy secretary general of the Sam Rainsy Party, adding that the prospects of a fair inquiry into the Chea Vichea killing remained slim.

"It's been five years. If the government really wanted to have a truly independent investigation, they would have cooperated with the witnesses. But nevertheless, we have to have hope."

Ministry of Interior spokesman Khieu Sopheak would not detail how the forthcoming investigation would proceed, but told the Post that Born Samnang and Sok Samouen had only been released temporarily and were both still accused of Chea Vichea's killing.

"The court has released them on bail but they have not yet completed their work," he said. "We will follow the court's decision."

But Mu Sochua said that the high turnout at the march would send a strong message.

"[This] is a message to the government that the Cambodian people, especially the workers, will continue to demand justice, and that the spirit of the democrats remains strong."

DMC calls for Justice for a Workers' Hero

Chea Vichea

DEMOCRATIC MOVEMENT FOR CHANGE

STATEMENT

JUSTICE FOR A WORKERS' HERO
ON THE OCCASION OF THE 5 TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KILLING OF CHEA VICHEA

JANUARY 22, 2009

On January 22, 2004, Chea Vichea, former President of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, was assassinated in cold blood after years of intimidation and threats by officials of the government. January 22, 2004 is a dark mark in the history of the movement of workers' in the Kingdom of Cambodia.

Five years have gone by but justice is yet to be delivered to Chea Vichea, his family and hundreds and thousands of workers who demand that the government reveal the truth behind this well-planned killing.

The release on bail of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, two innocent men who served five years in prison, by the Supreme Court on December 31, 2008, further demonstrates that the government of Cambodia is certain of their innocence but refuses to stop its travesty of justice.

We, Members of Parliament from the Sam Rainsy Party and the Human Rights Party join together with millions of Cambodians throughout the Kingdom of Cambodia who want justice and strongly appeal to the government to re-investigate this case, taking into account the testimonies provided by key witnesses.

On this occasion, we respectfully re-submit our petition to the highest consideration of His Majesty King Norodom Sihamoni that Chea Vichea be considered as a WORKERS' HERO for his lifelong dedication to the basic dignity of workers and the recognition of their contributions to the strength, prosperity and well-being of our nation.

Chea Vichea was a dedicated and fearless union leader with strong principles of justice. He gave birth to the workers' movement in Cambodia. The intent of his murder was to instill fear into the heart of the workers and inhibit them in their fight for justice. But instead his spirit lives on. We must continue the work Chea Vichea so nobly began for us, till just prevails.

Chea Vichea fought for justice for workers and our society as a whole. May we finally honor him as our hero.

The Democratic Movement for Change

For further information contact 012-831-040 or 016 435-106

Hundreds Mark Murder of Union Activist

Mu Sochua and Chea Mony, discussing strategies for the march (All photos: SRP)
Ron Chhun, leader for the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA), calling for an end to police brutality against workers who exercise their rights to protest.
Sam Rainsy and Kem Sokha, leaders of the Democratic Movement for Change, marching with their members of Parliament
Sam Rainsy and the father of Sok Sam Oeun, who has suffered severe emotional stress caused by his five years in jail
Born Samnang, wrongly accused of the murder of Chea Vichea, and his mother
Hundreds of police were dispatched along the march route

By Heng Reaksmey, VOA Khmer
Phnom Penh
22 January 2009

Hundreds of people gathered in Phnom Penh Thursday to mark the fifth anniversary of the murder of popular labor leader Chea Vichea.

The crowd amassed at the headquarters of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia, which was once led by Chea Vichea and is now led by his younger brother, Chea Mony.

“I attended the anniversary today to show that I want the government to find justice for Chea Vichea,” said Chanty, a 23-year-old worker from Cambohanse Factory.

Chea Vichea was gunned down in broad daylight in front of a newspaper stand near Wat Lanka, in Phnom Penh’s Chamkarmon district, on the morning of Jan. 22, 2004.

He had been a popular leader of garment factory workers, capable of calling huge demonstrations in Cambodia’s only real export industry.

Two men, Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, were subsequently sentenced to 20 years in prison for the killing. But both are widely considered innocent, and in December the Supreme Court ordered a review of their case by the Appeals Court and ordered their temporary release.

Human rights officials say the true killers of Chea Vichea remain at large, and on Thursday opposition leader Sam Rainsy urged further investigation into the killing and called on the US administration of newly elected president Barack Obama to help.

“Please, new president Barack Obama, help the Khmer people to seek the real killers and to punish them by law,” Sam Rainsy told the crowd. “I believe there is still someone behind the killers. So the real killers should be unmasked.”

Ministry of Interior spokesman Lt. Gen. Khieu Sopheak said police had not closed the investigation and were waiting for Phnom Penh Municipal Court for a request to resume the search.

Municipal court officials said the case of Chea Vichea was in the hands of the Appeals Court, but Appeals Court officials said they were waiting for the case to come from the Supreme Court. Supreme Court Vice President Khim Pon declined to comment.

Hong Kim Suon, lawyer for Sok Samoeun, said the case remained at the Supreme Court and he was not sure when it would move to the Appeals Court.

Multimedia slideshow - Chea Vichea

22-01-2009
By Vandy Rattana and John Vink
Ka-set

Commemoration of the murder of Chea Vichea

Click here to watch the multimedia slideshow on the commemoration of Chea Vichea's assassination. Images by Vandy Rattana and John Vink / magnum, sound by John Vink

1'05'' file - Opens up in a new window. Requires Flashplayer

Cambodia opposition seeks Obama's help in murder probe

Cambodians remember the 5th anniversary of the death of labour leader Chea Vichea (Photo: AFP)

Thursday, January 22, 2009

PHNOM PENH (AFP) — Cambodia's opposition leader Thursday urged US President Barack Obama to help find the killers of a prominent union boss, as hundreds of people gathered to mark five years since his murder.

Chea Vichea, who headed the country's largest labour union and was a vocal critic of Prime Minister Hun Sen's government, was gunned down at a Phnom Penh newsstand on January 22, 2004.

The daylight murder shocked Cambodia and badly fractured the country's nascent workers' movement. It was condemned by rights groups as a brutal attempt to silence opposition-linked unions.

"I beg US President Barack Obama to help Cambodian people find the criminals to bring them to justice," opposition leader Sam Rainsy told a crowd Thursday at the spot where Chea Vichea was shot.

The politician marched through Phnom Penh with some 300 garment workers and unionists to place wreaths and light incense sticks at the newsstand.

Sam Rainsy criticised authorities for failing to arrest the real culprits, but said he hoped that a "push from outside" would bring "change" in the case of Chea Vichea's murder over the next year.

Cambodia's highest court late last month provisionally released two men convicted of killing Chea Vichea and ordered the case to be re-tried, citing unclear evidence.

The two men, Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun, had been arrested just days after the union chief's 2004 death, convicted of murder and quickly sentenced to 20 years each in prison.

The United States and UN welcomed the decision by the court to order a retrial. International and local rights watchdogs had called the conviction and trial deeply flawed and said the true perpetrators remained at large.

But two other labour leaders have also been murdered since Chea Vichea's killing, in an escalation of attacks against workers' rights advocates.

Their deaths cast a pall over Cambodia's key garment industry, with several major clothing labels warning the government that swift justice was needed for their continued presence in the country.

Commemoration of Chea Vichea's fifth anniversary of his murder

People hold a portrait of Chea Vichea, former president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of Cambodia, and flowers as they march to mark the fifth anniversary of his death in Phnom Penh January 22, 2009. Vichea was shot dead at a news stand in central Phnom Penh in January 2004. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A woman burns incense and prays in front of a portrait of Chea Vichea, former president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of Cambodia, to mark the fifth anniversary of his death in Phnom Penh January 22, 2009. Vichea was shot dead at a news stand in central Phnom Penh in January 2004. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea
A woman burns incense and prays in front of a portrait of Chea Vichea, former president of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of Cambodia, to mark the fifth anniversary of his death in Phnom Penh January 22, 2009. Vichea was shot dead at a news stand in central Phnom Penh in January 2004. REUTERS/Chor Sokunthea

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.

Chea Mony: "When authorities give us permission to lay it down, we do it, and when they don’t allow us, we still lay it down"

By Chun Sakada, VOA Khmer
Original report from Phnom Penh
21 January 2008

Union officials and workers plan to lay a wreath Tuesday to commemorate the controversial murder of leader Chea Vichea in 2004.

Chea Vichea, the president of the Free Trade Union of Workers in the Kingdom of Cambodia, was shot dead Jan. 22, 2004.

Two men, Born Samnang and Sok Samoeun, were convicted following the shooting, but they are widely believed to be innocent.

Chea Mony, brother to the slain leader and now head of the Free Trade Union, said Monday that hundreds of union workers and activists will march to the site where Chea Vichea was gunned down near Wat Langka, to lay a wreath of flowers.

“Every year after the murder of Chea Vichea, we always lay a wreath,” Chea Mony said. “When authorities give us permission to lay it down, we do it, and when they don’t allow us, we still lay it down.”

Phnom Penh Municipal Deputy Director Suon Rindy said the city had given the workers permission to lay the wreath, “according to an agenda that we are now working on together.”