The Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association, (ADHOC), urges the Royal Government of Cambodia and officials of the Cambodian Embassy in Thailand to investigate and closely monitor the situation of Cambodian migration workers in Thailand.
In 2013, the Cambodian Human Rights and Development Association received complaints requesting intervention in at least 75 cases of abuse against migration workers in Thailand, subsequent to victims suffering torture, deprivation of food, forced detention, threats, physical assault, sexual abuse, withholding of pay, trafficking to other locations without consent, and loss of all contact due to company closure. In addition to these abuses, Cambodian migrant workers in 2013 have been found shot to death, dead in their workplace, or at their place of residence in Thailand.
One such case of serious abuse occurred in late December 2013. ADHOC handled and intervened in relation to the case of human right’s abuse against Cambodian woman Tha Thor, aged 32 years. Tha Thor had been living in Phasisra village, Reussey Krork commune, Monkul Borei district, Banteay Mean chey province. The ADHOC provincial office located in Banteay Mean Chey received a complaint from the victim’s relatives requesting help and intervention in liaising with relevant organizations to rescue the victim and arrange her repatriation. ADHOC is extremely concerned about the extensive abuses the victim regretfully suffered whilst working in Bangkok, Thailand; including illegal detention at the will of the victim’s Thai boss, and being forcibly stripped in public, at which point the victim’s boss, owner of a Thai casino, and his companions, took and posted semi-naked photos of the victim online. These actions are a serious attack on human dignity and are an example of the degrading and humiliating treatment faced by Cambodian workers such as Tha. Thor, whilst working in Thailand. The victim was rescued from this abusive situation and from the abusive Thai boss only after an official from the Cambodian Embassy showed a photo of the victim, semi-naked and tortured, to the Thai police, who then had the victim released to the Cambodian Embassy.
ADHOC would like to admire the Cambodian Embassy official that worked very hard in this action to rescue the victim. But, we was regret on the act of continuing the complaint to the court due to this case, the Cambodian Embassy official is an important eyewitness to this violation, having seen the physical and mental impact of the abuse on the victim. Therefore, the Cambodian Embassy officer has an important role to play in seeking justice for the victim. However, contradictory to this, the Cambodian Embassy official has failed to assist the victim in seeking justice. In fact, the official has not encouraged nor assisted the victim in seeking justice, rather advising the victim to forfeit her complaint immediately.
In order to solve this problem and improve access to justice for Cambodian migrant workers who work and may have suffered abuse in Thailand, especially in relation to the abuses suffered by victim Tha Thor, ADHOC would like to appeal to the Royal Government of Cambodia to ensure that lawmakers and law enforcement officials are well trained to investigate cases of violence, abuse and discrimination again women, and are committed to assisting victim’s in accessing justice.
Phnom Penh, February 4th , 2014
For more information please contact:
Ms. Chuon Chamrong, Head of Women and Children’s Section : 017 73 83 87
Ms. Lim Mony, Deputy Head of Women and Children’s Section : 012 83 44 49
