By May Titthara
The Phnom Penh Post
Unionists
yesterday said they would urge international organisations and buyers
to pressure the government to re-charge and arrest the former Bavet town
governor accused of shooting three garment workers and to release two
men imprisoned for the murder of unionist Chea Vichea.
Speaking at the launch of a Cambodia branch of the International Trade
Union Confederation (ITUC), presidents for two of the country’s most
prominent unions said they would be launching campaigns to bring
publicity to the cases.
“We are going to start a campaign on the [Chhouk] Bandith case to seek
justice for victims and demand the release of Sok Sam Oeun and Born
Samnang, to find the real murderer,” said Rong Chhun, president of the
Cambodian Confederation of Unions.
In December, charges of unintentional injury were dropped against
Bandith, who had been fingered by numerous witnesses for firing shots at
a garment factory protest, injuring three women.
The same month, Sam Oeun and Samnang were re-arrested for the 2004
slaying of unionist Chea Vichea – a crime for which it is widely
believed they were wrongfully convicted.
Though Chhun did not provide dates, he said he would soon raise the
cases to the ITUC, International Labour Organization, and buyers, asking
for joint statements of support.
Coalition of Cambodian Apparel Workers’ Democratic Union President Ath
Thorn said the union would support a forthcoming protest over the
Bandith case.
“I support [Free Trade Union president] Chea Mony in leading workers to
protest for the court to arrest Chhouk Bandith,” he said.
On December 21, the general prosecutor of the Appeal Court appealed the
Svay Rieng court’s decision to the charges against Bandith and filed for
a reinvestigation.
Ouk Savuth, prosecutor general at the Court of Appeal, said an exact
date for the hearing had not been set, but “it will be carried out after
the King Father’s cremation”.
The unionists also called for an increase to the minimum wage, from $61 a month to $150.
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