Cambodia: TUC urges Government to allow peaceful protest
Frances O'Grady's letter to the Cambodian Prime Minister reads as follows:
Respect freedom of association: the world is watching Cambodia
I understand that trade unions in Cambodia have planned to hold a peaceful forum on Saturday 8 March, International Women’s Day, at Freedom Park in Phnom Penh to express their serious concerns about the minimum wage and growing restrictions on the exercise of freedom of association in Cambodia.
I am deeply concerned at reports that roughly 2,000 police officers in riot gear recently carried out crowd-control drills at Olympic Stadium. Together with the recent decision of the government to appoint the heads of the armed forces to the Committee to Solve Strikes and Demonstrations, this makes us fearful about the safety of participants in tomorrow’s protest.
In January, your government responded to worker demonstrations over the minimum wage with violence that left at least 5 people dead and dozens wounded.
On behalf of the British trade union movement, I urge you to allow the trade union forum tomorrow to proceed peacefully and ensure that rights to freedom of association, assembly and expression are fully respected in your country.
A confrontation tomorrow would be a serious loss not only for those affected directly, but for the country which would see its international standing and commercial reputation eroded even further.
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