The release of Rong Chhun, President of the Cambondia Independent Teachers’ Association, Kem Sokha, President of the Cambodian Centre for Human Rights, his deputy, Pa Nguon Tean and Yeng Virak, Director of the Cambodian Legal Education Centre (CLEC) signifies an important step by the Cambodian Government to ensure respect for the civil liberties of Cambodian union leaders and human rights activists.
The ILO particularly welcomes the release of Rong Chhun, who had been held in detention since October 2005 without trial. It maintains its concern however over the fact that the charges of defamation against Rong, Chea Money, President of the Tree Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC), Man Nath, President of the Cambodian Independent Civil Servant Association and Ear Channa, Deputy Secretary-General of the Student Movement for Democracy, have not been dropped.
The ILO calls upon the Government to mark the second anniversary of the murder of Chea Vichea, then President of the FTUWKC, on 22 January by taking further steps to demonstrate its full commitment to ensuring respect for freedom of expression and freedom of association by dropping all remaining charges against these union leaders and activists and creating a climate where they may freely exercise their basic rights without threat or fear.
For further information please contact:
Kari Tapiola
Executive Director for Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work
ILO Geneva
tel.+41 22 799 6324
Chris Evans-Klock
Director
ILO Sub-Regional Office for East Asia
tel. +662-2882219
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