Phnom Penh, 27 February 2012 — After three female factory workers were shot on 20 February during a protest at Svay Rieng Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and despite official statements that a suspect was identified, no arrests have been announced so far. Interior Minister Sar Kheng, Provincial Governor Chieng Am and police officials now remain silent about investigation into the shooting.
Early on 20 February 2012, thousands of workers from three different factories (Kaoway, Sheico and Kingmaker) gathered to demand higher wages. They also demanded that the companies stop dismissing employees who are unwilling to work on Sundays and public holidays. As company representatives refused to open dialogue, the demonstration turned into a riot. Both protesters and the police threw stones at each other.
At around 2:00pm, in front of Kaoway factory, a security guard took out his gun and shot at demonstrators, leaving at least three Kaoway workers injured. Keo Ny (18), Nuth Sokhorn (23) and Boun Chenda (21) were wounded, the latter seriously. Svay Rieng SEZ and company representatives have denied any responsibility in the shooting, instead trying to delegitimize the protest by declaring that it was “politically motivated” and inherently violent.
The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) reiterates its call on the Cambodian authorities to shed light on the circumstances of the shooting. In particular, they should investigate the chain of command―that is, who gave the order to open fire, who provided the guards with guns, and whether the latter received training and legal authorization for carrying such arms—and determine whether other persons within Kaoway or the SEZ, including top management and shareholders, should be held responsible for the use of fire arms against protesters.
The fact that the protest turned violent is not an excuse for the use of such disproportionate force against the demonstrators. In addition, it is of grave concern that public authorities, whose duty it is to uphold law and order, did not manage to rein in the situation. Police forces should have been present in sufficient numbers to protect the citizens from aggression.
As labor rights groups prepare to start a campaign to pressure international buyers involved in the Cambodian garment industry (including Puma), ADHOC reminds Cambodian authorities that they must comply with national and international labor regulations, which provide for workers’ rights to strike, to form trade unions, and to engage in collective bargaining to improve their working conditions.
At Svay Rieng, factory workers demanded a ten-dollar increase to their monthly salary, a 2,000-riel daily allowance for lunch, as well as commitment by the SEZ companies not to dismiss employees who refuse to work on Sundays and public holidays. The right to rest is a fundamental right protected by international legal standards, and Cambodia is under obligation to ensure labor rights are observed by all companies established in its territory, including Special Economic Zones.
For more information, please contact:
Mr. Ny Chakrya, Head of Monitoring Section at ADHOC: 011 274 959
Mr. Chan Soveth, Deputy Head of Monitoring Section: 016 937 591
Mr. Nicolas Agostini, Technical Assistant: 078 405 024
