Unofficial translation from Khmer

CAMBODIA WATCHDOG COUNCIL INTERNATIONAL
# Havreveien 94, 4635 Kristiansand City, Norway, Tel: +4790818257/+4799489347
E-mail: cwci_secretariat@yahoo.com / cwci@start.no
Website: www.cwcinternational.wordpress.com

Kristiansand, 12 June 2009

Statement

On 12 June, the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) was prevented by several hundreds of Cambodian government police force from holding a peaceful demonstration during the official visit of Thailand Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva in Cambodia. The demonstration goal was to demand that Thailand pays damage compensations for Cambodian people living near the Preah Vihear temple. The action [of the Cambodian government] clearly confirms that Mr. Hun Sen’s government is nothing but a client-state of Thailand, and it agreed to dismiss Cambodia’s honor and benefit altogether. Furthermore, the prevention of this peaceful demonstration by CCU only encourages Thailand to pursue further its aggression on Cambodia because the Cambodian government is taking all measures to silence its own people, and preventing them from protesting. This is a clear violation of the Cambodian Constitution which grants full rights to Cambodian people to hold public gathering, and to hold peaceful demonstration and strikes.

With its plan turned down by the authority, CCU led by Mr. Rong Chhun and his colleagues decided to hold a press conference at its office instead. Nevertheless, Mr. Rong Chhun and his colleagues were still followed by the authority, and especially by secret government agents. This is tantamount to intimidation and threat against the personal safety of Mr. Rong Chhun and his colleagues.

CWCI is very concerned about the safety of Mr. Rong Chhun and his colleagues who could suffer from [ill will] attempts by Cambodian government secret agents. Due to past mishaps suffered by union and political activists after they were followed and threatened by government agents, these activists became target of murder attempts and the perpetrators of these crimes were never apprehended by the government nor were they brought in to face justice.

CWCI strongly condemns the actions taken by the government authority against CCU, and we call on International and National human rights groups to pay close attention to this case, we also call on them to push the Cambodian government to immediately cease all its threatening actions, as well as its prevention to hold public gathering and peaceful demonstration, and its repression against union and association activists.

CWCI President

(Signed) Men Nath