The International Labour Office joins its voice in the concern raised over the arrests of Krm Sokha, Pa Nguon Teang and Yeng Virak
The ILO is deeply disturbed by the arrest of Cambodian human rights activists, some representing organizations which have been active partners with the ILO.
(ILO The International Labour Office is deeply disturbed by the arrest and continuing detention of Kem Sokha, President of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, Yeng Virak, Director of the Cambodian Legal Education Centre (CLEC) and Pa Nguon Teang, Deputy Director of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights on charges of defamation.
These arrests are alarmingly reminiscent of the arrest in October 2005 of Mr. Rong Chhun, President of the Cambodia Independent Teachers’ Association, who deplorably remains in detention, and the issuance of an arrest warrant against Chea Mony, President of the Free Trade Union of the Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), forcing them into exile. These repeated actions appear to target meaningful freedom of expression and association and raise serious queries as to the commitment on the part of the Government to ensure full respect for civil liberties, a necessary cornerstone for trade union rights.
The CLEC has been an active partner with the ILO on a number of projects aimed at ensuring dissemination of information on legal issues and rights and has, in particular, provided training for the Labour Dispute Resolution Project and Better Factories Cambodia project, supported the development of the Cambodian Labour Arbitration Council, and been an important counterpart in the ILO/DANIDA project, A Rights Based Approach to Indigenous Peoples’ Development.
The detention of leading figures key to the dissemination of information to the Cambodian people on their basic rights simply for their having themselves exercised the basic right of freedom of expression represents a fundamental danger to democracy.
The ILO trusts that the Government will take all necessary steps to ensure that freedom of association and expression may be exercised freely and without fear.
For further information please contact:
Kari Tapiola
Executive Director for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
ILO
tel.+41 22 799 6324
Chris Evans-Klock
Director
ILO Sub-Regional Office for East Asia
tel. +662-2882219