Phnom Penh, 21 February 2012 — Three female factory workers were shot yesterday during a protest at Svay Rieng Special Economic Zone (SEZ). One is in a critical condition and has been transferred to Phnom Penh’s Calmette Hospital. Witnesses report that a fourth woman may have been killed in the incident, but this information could not be confirmed.
At 7:30am yesterday, 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 decline to work on Sundays and public holidays. As company representatives refused to engage in 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) was shot in the arm and Nuth Sokhorn (23) was shot in the back and in the hand. They are now recovering at private clinics in Bavet and Svay Rieng City, respectively. Boun Chenda (21) was more seriously wounded; she was shot in the chest and the bullet went out through her armpit. She has been transferred to Phnom Penh’s Calmette Hospital and is still in a critical condition. According to several eyewitnesses, the police present at the scene of the crime stood by and allowed the gunman to escape. Ros Phalrith, Svay Rieng Provincial Administration Deputy Chief, denied this fact.
One month after private security guards deliberately opened fire at unarmed villagers during a demonstration in Kratie province, this is yet another disturbing development related to protest and the use of firearms by private parties.
The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association (ADHOC) therefore calls on the Cambodian authorities to shed light on the circumstances of the shooting at Svay Rieng SEZ. 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. If other persons within Kaoway or the SEZ, including top management and shareholders, are responsible for the use of firearms against protesters, they must be held accountable.
The fact that yesterday’s protest turned violent is not an excuse for the use of such disproportionate force against the demonstrators. The protesters threw stones but this does not justify the use of fire arms. 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.
Cambodia 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 instruments to which Cambodia is a party, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Cambodia is under obligation to ensure labor rights are observed by all companies established in its territory, including Special Economic Zones.
