PHNOM PENH: The Phnom Penh Municipal Court has made the decision to detain two NagaWorld Union leaders, Chhim Sithor and Sok Narith, on charges of incitement to commit a crime under articles 494 and 495 of the Cambodian Penal Code, on Wednesday. A third union leader, Sok Kongkea, has been placed under judicial supervision and was released on bail.
According to the co-lawyer of all three union leaders, Sam Chamroeun, Chhim Sithor and Sok Narith were detained and sent to Prey Sar Prison after a full day of questioning. Sam Chamroeun has stated that he considers the decision to charge his clients as too hasty and unfair. He has said that he would be filing a complaint to the Investigative Chamber of the Court of Appeal to demand that his two clients be released on bail.
The Deputy Director for Monitoring at the Cambodian League for the Promotion and Defense of Human Rights (LICADHO), Am Sam Ath, has said that the arrests of the three union leaders and their representatives is not a good resolution to the problem between the company, NagaWorld, and the protesting workers. He added that if authorities continue to arrest protestors, it will be a violation of labor rights, and will also act as a violation of basic rights and a threat to advocates of non-violent protest.
NagaWorld workers union members have been involved in close to three weeks of strikes and protests over the termination of more than 1,300 NagaWorld workers last year due to disruptions by the Covid-19 pandemic. On Tuesday, The Phnom Penh Police held a press conference on the arrest of six protesting union members on New Year’s Eve, presenting evidence of financial reports, voicemails and plans from foreign and domestic organizations supporting the organization of the protests which the Municipal Court has determined as enough evidence to detain the union leaders and proceed with further legal proceedings. The Court has so far decided to charge a total of at least nine protestors for causing disturbances to social security.
A total of 119 civil society groups issued a five-page statement on Tuesday evening, expressing their deep disappointment with the actions and decision of the Phnom Penh Municipal Police to detain the union leaders, negotiators and union activists who support the labor rights of the NagaWorld workers of the company.
The Australian Embassy in Cambodia has also released a short statement on its official Facebook page saying that, “People have the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression, and we encourage all parties to return to negotiations in pursuit of a swift, peaceful resolution.”
The US Embassy to Cambodia has also posted a message on its Facebook page stating that the embassy was closely monitoring the arrests of union members, “for their peaceful expression and urge authorities to hear citizens, not silence them.” The embassy concluded its statement by saying that “Freedoms of speech, assembly & association are guaranteed in the Cambodian constitution.”
NagaWorld workers continue to protest in front of the casino in Daun Penh district, Phnom Penh, to demand that the company respect labor laws and accept them back to work and also pay them the appropriate compensation. Until now, the dispute between the company and the workers has not yet found a resolution, despite mediation from the Phnom Penh Administration and the Ministry of Labor.
