CAMBODIA: Riots and violent confrontation over Labour disputes 

CAMBODIA: Riots and violent confrontation over Labour disputes

Riot police in Cambodia seriously assaulted the labour rights of workers on 13 June 2003 when they fired into a crowd of several hundred demonstrators who were airing their grievances over pay, the sacking of a union member and other labour issues. The violence resulted in the deaths of factory worker Mao Vuthey (30 years old), and municipal police officer, Sok Sovanara (42 years old), who died of head injuries. The reported cause of Mao Vuthey’s death varies from a bullet in his spine, to a gun blast to his chest. A relative of Mao Vuthey, Mao Piseth, said that he had seen the Police shoot Mao Vuthey dead.

Prior to the violence on 13 June, up to 1,000 workers at the Terratex Knitting and Garment Factory Ltd had been demonstrating peacefully outside the factory in the south of the capital Phnom Penh for five days. The workers wanted the reinstatement of a recently fired union member who had been leading other workers in their request for time off; better working conditions, such as a reduction in forced overtime; and the removal of a senior manager that they claim is corrupt. The workers also wanted an increase in their monthly wages from US$30 to US$45 from the management of the factory, which produces clothes for Gap, a large US retail chain.

Nearly 30 local police were at the factory but an extra 200 Intervention Police joined and dispersed the gathering. Police, using batons and guns, clashed with the workers, who were armed with stones. Officers with assault rifles fired shots into the air and at the ground, witnesses said. The factory workers retaliated by throwing stones, and some attacked the factory and tried to set it alight. In addition, 34 alleged participants in the clash are now in jail. In the aftermath of the confrontation, a kilometre-long stretch of road was strewn with spent AK-47 shells and abandoned sandals, as the workers fled from the gunfire.

The Manager of the factory, Mr Jimmy Sum, said that his company abides by the labour law. The Cambodia Human Rights Action Committee condemned the show of police force, calling the action a violation of the Constitution. The Terratex crackdown is the latest articulation of the government¡¯s ban on peaceful protects, which began after 29 January.

As a result of the violence at the Terratex factory, work was disrupted in neighbouring garment factories, which were hastily shut down. The garment industry is Cambodia¡¯s main source of foreign revenue, with about 200,000 people working in more than 200 factories. Garment factories produced around US$1.1 billion in exports in 2001, which is about 77 percent of the country¡¯s total; most of the clothes go to the US to be sold by Nike, Adidas and Gap.

Human Rights groups have accused some of the factories in the area of exploiting workers. Employees frequently protest about their pay and working conditions, although the ILO says that the situation has improved in recent years. However, at the Great Lancelot International Co Ltd factory, on Thursday 12 June, 78 employees fainted allegedly due to a lack of fresh air. Some workers at the factory fell unconscious after breathing fumes from chemically treated cloth, and workers staged a strike over this Health & Safety issue.

The confrontation and violence at the Terratex factory marks the bloodiest confrontation between striking workers and Police in recent history, and took place amid last minute preparation for this week¡¯s ASEAN Regional Forum and ministerial meetings. The ASEAN Forum was due to begin on 16 June, with US Secretary of State, Colin Powell, scheduled to be in attendance. It is believed that US experts have provided anti-terrorism training and have been co-ordinating security plans with the Ministry of Interiors¡¯ Bodyguard Department. Cambodian officials have said it is a priority to prevent a terrorist attack, as well as street demonstrations, during the week-long ASEAN meetings.

A march on the following day of the violence, 14 June, by the workers at the Terratex factory to mourn the death of their colleague, resulted in further violence, as well as arrests. Police fired into the air to disperse the workers, and 500 police armed with AK-47s and electric batons battled with about 250 workers, who again threw rocks.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Write letters to the Prime Minister expressing your concern about the recent violence against workers, and the reaction of the Government and the Police to the incidents of protest, and in general the lack of workers’ rights in Cambodia.

A sample letter and contact details for your action are provided below.

Also view AHRC’s Cambodia website at:

 

 

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