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Media Album | Calls for Justice for Chea Vichea’s Murder: 20 Years Without Progress

22 January 2024

More than 100 people gathered nearby Phnom Penh’s Wat Langka pagoda this morning to demand justice for murdered union leader Chea Vichea. The former President of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) was shot and killed in broad daylight at a newspaper stall outside the pagoda on 22 January 2004.

Today, 20 years later, participants including activists, youth and other civil society representatives gathered to call for the murderers to be brought to justice. Vichea’s younger brother and now National Power Party (NPP) Vice President Chea Mony and other FTUWKC representatives read statements about the unionist’s murder. Participants also submitted a petition to Prime Minister Hun Manet’s Cabinet, calling for justice for Vichea and other murdered activists.

Media Album | Grassroots Groups and Unions Call for Release of Chhim Sithar

26 December 2023

Around 50 people from grassroots groups and unions this morning gathered in front of Correctional Center 2 (CC2) prison to call for the release of Chhim Sithar, President of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU).

Participants included supporters from the LRSU, Cambodian Alliance of Trade Unions (CATU); Cambodian Food and Service Workers’ Federation (CFSWF); Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA); Cambodia Tourism Workers' Union Federation (CTWUF); Cambodian Informal Economic Workers Association (CIWA); and Cambodian Youth Network (CYN); and LICADHO. Many joined with banners, balloons, and loudspeakers. They were monitored by approximately 10 plainclothes authorities, who photographed and videoed participants throughout.

Report | Bound by Bricks: An Opportunity to End Debt Bondage and Child Labour in Cambodia

20 November 2023audio available

Debt bondage and child labour plague Cambodia’s brick factories, as decades of inaction by the Cambodian government and construction and real estate sectors have allowed these human rights abuses to continue unchecked.

Today, on World Children’s Day 2023, the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO) is renewing its call for all actors to immediately end these shameful practices. “Bound by Bricks: An Opportunity to End Debt Bondage and Child Labour in Cambodia’s Brick Factories" is a report based on information documented by LICADHO from 21 brick factories across Kandal province and the capital Phnom Penh.

Media Album | Garment Brands’ Waste Burnt in Cambodian Brick Factories; Few Commit to Act

20 November 2023

International brands’ garment waste is contributing to human rights and environmental harms in Cambodia’s brick factories. During visits to brick factories from April to September 2023, LICADHO found pre-consumer garment waste this year at five operational and two permanently closed brick factories. These factories in Phnom Penh and Kandal province burnt pre-consumer garment waste to fuel brick kilns. LICADHO found waste marked with 19 international brands as evidenced by the photographs below.

Flash Info | Appeal Court Upholds Convictions of LRSU Unionists

19 October 2023audio available

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court today upheld the convictions of eight current and former unionists from the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU).

Nine activists, including union President Chhim Sithar, were convicted of incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in May 2023. Eight of the activists appealed the verdict. They included Sithar, who received the maximum sentence of two years in prison; Chhim Sokhorn, Hay Sopheap, Kleang Soben, Sun Srey Pich and Touch Sereymeas, who were sentenced to 18 months in prison; and Sok Narith and Ry Sovandy, who received one-year suspended sentences.

The Appeal Court trial started this morning. The court announced its verdict upholding the lower court’s judgment in full this afternoon after deliberating for 30 minutes. Sok Kongkea, who was also convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court and received a suspended sentence, did not appeal the lower court’s verdict.

Flash Info | Over 100 People Gather in Phnom Penh to Celebrate World Teachers’ Day

5 October 2023audio available

More than 100 people from unions and organisations including the Cambodian Independent Teachers Association (CITA) today gathered at Freedom Park in Phnom Penh to celebrate World Teachers’ Day. The event was monitored by around 20 uniformed and plainclothes authorities, who prevented participants from marching. Participants instead remained at Freedom Park, and a representative from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport received their petition.

Many attendees held banners calling for the elimination of corruption in Cambodia’s education system, freedom of association for teachers, and an increase of teachers’ salaries and benefits. Other signs called for the release of prisoners such as the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU) President Chhim Sithar and prominent activist Seng Theary.

Participants included representatives from CITA, LRSU, the Cambodian Labour Confederation (CLC) and other activists. Eight speakers delivered speeches including Ouk Chhayavy, President of CITA; Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodian Confederation of Unions (CCU) and Vice-President of the Candlelight Party; Long Rim, CITA board member; Ath Thun, President of CLC; Mom Sovandin, LRSU member; Thon Chantha, Candlelight Party youth leader; Heng Choeurn, President of the Cambodian Agricultural Workers Federation (CAWF) and CLC member; and political activist Prum Chantha.

Flash Info | Appeal Court Upholds Four Veng Sreng-Related Convictions

29 September 2023audio available

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court today announced its verdict upholding criminal charges against four out of 10 people who were arrested in front of Phnom Penh's Yak Jin garment factory on 2 January 2014, one day before the violence that took place along Veng Sreng Boulevard in January 2014. The strike was notoriously shut down on 3 January 2014 when mixed government forces opened fire on the striking workers.

The 10 workers were convicted by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court in 2014 of instigating intentional acts of violence with aggravating circumstances, contrary to Articles 28 and 218 of the Criminal Code. Out of the 10 defendants, only four (Chan Puthisak, a Boeung Kak Lake land activist; Theng Savoeun, President of the Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC); Sokun Sambath Piseth, a former staff member at Center for Labor Rights of Cambodia; and Vorn Pao, President of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA)) appealed their sentences.

The Appeal Court upheld the Municipal Court’s decision to sentence Theng Savoeun to four years’ imprisonment, as well as its sentences of four years and six months for Chan Puthisak, Sokun Sambath Piseth, and Vorn Pao, all of which were suspended by the lower court. All four had already spent between 3 January and 30 May 2014 in prison. The Appeal Court also dropped the 8 million riel fine (around US $2,000) imposed by the lower court on all four defendants.

Media Album | Celebrating International Labour Day 2023

1 May 2023

Around 2,000 people celebrated International Labour Day 2023 at two key events in Phnom Penh this morning. Workers, unionists, and civil society gathered at Wat Phnom and outside the National Assembly to call for respect for labour rights and an end to harassment of unionists.

Garment workers, construction workers, informal workers, farmers, entertainment workers, domestic workers, hospitality workers, and others gathered this morning. Unionists and workers marched from Wat Phnom to the Council for the Development of Cambodia, where they gave speeches, sang songs, and shared ideas in a public forum. Another group marched from the National Assembly to Chea Vichea's statue, where they gathered to hear speeches.

Flash Info | Supreme Court Rejects LRSU Members’ Appeal; Chhim Sithar to Remain in Prison

24 March 2023audio available

The Supreme Court rejected the appeal of seven women unionists this morning, all of whom are representatives of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU) and include its President Chhim Sithar. As a result of the Supreme Court’s decision, Sithar will remain in prison throughout an ongoing incitement trial, which commenced at the Phnom Penh Municipal Court on 21 February 2023. The other six women – Chhim Sokhorn, Hay Sopheap, Kleang Soben, Ry Sovandy, Sun Srey Pich, and Touch Sereymeas – will remain under judicial supervision. The Supreme Court’s decision was made on the grounds that no written power of attorney was submitted as part of the appeal.

The seven women are currently on trial (alongside two other defendants) for charges of incitement as a result of their peaceful strike action. They had appealed the December 2022 decision of the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s Investigating Judge, who had ordered that Chhim Sithar remain in provisional detention. The Investigating Judge had also placed the other six unionists under judicial supervision.

LRSU members have been on strike since December 2021 following mass layoffs at the NagaWorld casino, which included the LRSU’s entire leadership and a significant number of its members. The seven unionists were first arrested on charges of incitement in late December 2021 and early January 2022, and spent two months in pre-trial detention. They were released in March 2022, but Sithar was again arrested and imprisoned on 26 November 2022 at Phnom Penh International Airport while returning from a labour rights conference in Australia. Sithar was re-arrested for allegedly violating judicial supervision conditions, despite the fact that neither she nor her lawyers were ever informed of any conditions. Sithar remains in Correctional Center 2 prison in Phnom Penh.

Flash Info | LRSU President Chhim Sithar Denied Bail

19 January 2023audio available

The Phnom Penh Municipal Court this morning denied bail to Chhim Sithar, president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of Nagaworld (LRSU), ordering her to remain in pre-trial detention in Correctional Center 2 prison. No reason was given for the denial.

Sithar was first arrested in January 2022 and spent two months in pre-trial detention after being charged with incitement alongside other members of her union. She was released on bail in March 2022, but she was again arrested in November by immigration police at the Phnom Penh International Airport while returning from a labour rights conference in Australia.

Authorities accused Sithar of violating bail conditions by leaving the country, despite neither Sithar nor her lawyers ever being informed of such conditions. She has been detained at Correctional Center 2 prison since 26 November 2022.

Media Album | Cambodia’s Women Labour Rights Activists Speak Out

27 November 2022

Throughout the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which runs from 25 November to 10 December, LICADHO will be sharing six videos in this album featuring labour rights activists who are standing up for just working conditions and fighting to end gender-based violence at work. Each with different backgrounds, together they represent factory workers, sex workers, entertainment workers, casino workers, teachers, tuk tuk drivers, domestic workers and more.

Flash Info | Chhim Sithar Detained Upon Returning to Cambodia

26 November 2022audio available

Union leader Chhim Sithar was detained by immigration police at the Phnom Penh International Airport today after returning to Cambodia following a 12-day trip to Australia. She was detained at immigration at around 10:30 am and has been sent to the Phnom Penh Municipal Court.

Sithar’s lawyer, who was present at the airport, has not been allowed to accompany the union leader during questioning and has been unable to contact her for several hours.

Sithar, the president of the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU), was charged with incitement under Articles 494 and 495 of the Criminal Code in January 2022 after the union began a strike action. She was violently arrested while trying to join fellow strikers and spent over two months in pre-trial detention alongside other union leaders and members before being released on bail in March this year. Upon her release, neither Sithar nor her lawyers were informed of any judicial supervision or probation conditions, such as travel restrictions.

Briefing | Women United for Labour Rights in Cambodia: Six Stories of Resistance

25 November 2022audio available

LICADHO is marking the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by celebrating all women who are standing up for labour rights and fighting to end gender-based violence at work. In “Women United for Labour Rights in Cambodia”, LICADHO shares the stories and recommendations of six activists fighting as leaders and members of trade unions, associations and federations.

Together, they represent factory workers, sex workers, entertainment workers, casino workers, teachers, tuk tuk drivers, domestic workers and more. They are all calling out the violence and sexual harassment that their members face at the workplace.

Flash Info | LRSU Strikers Beaten by Authorities

11 August 2022audio available

A union striker was punched in the face by a uniformed officer, and left briefly unconscious and bleeding from a gash on her nose, after authorities violently stopped around 80 strikers from walking to the front of NagaWorld casino this afternoon.

The violence occurred as strikers from the Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU) sought to move past metal barricades that authorities set up to block them from accessing the area in front of the casino. Around 80 police and mixed security forces then began violently hitting, kicking, stomping on and shoving back the mostly women union members to stop them from passing the barricades.

Less than three weeks ago, on 22 July, authorities violently pushed several protesting LRSU unionists to the ground in the same area of central Phnom Penh as strikers attempted to walk to the NagaWorld casino.

Flash Info | Authorities Violently Push LRSU Unionists

22 July 2022audio available

Several unionists from the Labour Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU) were violently pushed to the ground by authorities as they attempted to walk to NagaWorld casino in central Phnom Penh to strike this afternoon.

About 80 strikers, most of whom were women, gathered this afternoon and were met by more than 100 police and mixed security forces near the corner of Samdach Sothearos Boulevard and Preah Sihanouk Boulevard nearby the casino complex. Strikers were violently pushed by security forces as they peacefully moved through barricades blocking the road. Security forces threw several strikers to the ground, with at least one man and one woman suffering cuts to their faces as a result.

Human rights monitors were instructed by authorities to move away from the gathering and stop taking photographs prior to the use of violence.

Media Album | Celebrating International Labour Day 2022

1 May 2022

Several events were organised by labour unions and civil society organisations to celebrate International Labour Day 2022 in Phnom Penh on Sunday. There are approximately one thousand of workers participating in this morning celebration.

Statement | Stop Escalating Crackdown on LRSU Strikers

25 March 2022audio available

Authorities have alarmingly escalated the use of violence and mass detention of union members in front of NagaWorld casino in recent weeks, as well as increasing restrictions placed on human rights monitors and journalists covering the authorities’ worsening crackdown. We, the undersigned civil society groups, urge the government to de-escalate the situation and stop the repeated intimidation of strikers, including driving them to various areas far from the city center and leaving them stranded there late at night.

We are concerned by recent actions from authorities prohibiting human rights monitors and journalists from observing the continued use of violence against peaceful strikers, most of whom are women. On multiple occasions, authorities have barred human rights monitors and journalists from taking photographs or standing near the site of these heavy-handed detentions. Journalists have been threatened with arrest for covering the strike, and in several cases authorities have pushed monitors and journalists away as authorities violently drag strikers onto buses. They have also threatened to detain monitors alongside strikers at Covid-19 quarantine centers.

Flash Info | Eight LRSU Unionists Denied Bail at Appeal Court

10 March 2022audio available

The Phnom Penh Appeal Court this morning upheld the lower court’s decision to deny bail to eight union members and leaders from the Labor Rights Supported Union of Khmer Employees of NagaWorld (LRSU). After the verdict, the eight were returned to Correctional Centre 1 (CC1) and Correctional Centre 2 (CC2) in Phnom Penh, where they are in pre-trial detention on charges of incitement.

The eight were arrested in December 2021 and January 2022 while participating in a strike against NagaWorld casino. They include union leader Chhim Sithar, union secretary Chhim Sokhorn, and unionists Hay Sopheap, Kleang Soben, Ry Sovandy, Sun Srey Pich, and Touch Sereymeas, as well as former union member Sok Narith. The Appeal Court’s decision came one day after a high-level meeting between leaders from the police, courts, and ministries organized by Interior Minister Sar Kheng to discuss the NagaWorld labour dispute.

Three additional LRSU members - Choub Channath, Sao Sambath, and Seng Vannarith – are also in pre-trial detention after being arrested in February 2022 on charges of obstructing enforcement measures under the newly passed Covid-19 law. Despite these arrests, union members have continued their strike to call for NagaWorld to respect labour rights and reinstate improperly dismissed workers, even as the government has arrested the union’s leaders, harassed striking workers, and detained more than one hundred strikers in government quarantine facilities using the new Covid-19 law in recent months.

Media Album | Celebrating International Women’s Day 2022

8 March 2022

More than 3,000 people joined events to celebrate International Women’s Day 2022 across 12 provinces and the capital Phnom Penh. Communities, farmers, unionists, informal workers, land activists, youth, civil society members and others joined events and shared speeches about challenges faced by women in their communities. They spoke out for imprisoned unionists to be released, for an end to gender based violence and discrimination, for women to be able to enjoy their rights to expression and assembly, and more. Many communities also marched, released balloons, led question and answer sessions, and shared solidarity lunches.

While most events were celebrated on 8 March, communities began celebration on 6 March and two further events are planned in Banteay Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces. In Pursat province, an event was cancelled following threats and intimidation by commune authorities and a district governor.

Video | “We have to be strong and brave”: Women Strikers Speak Out Against Harassment

8 March 2022audio available

Women unionists have faced targeted harassment in an attempt to intimidate them into stopping their strike. LICADHO is releasing a video featuring several of these brave women to mark International Women’s Day.

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