The Cambodian Human Rights Action Committee (CHRAC), is deeply disturbed and very concerned about the crackdown by the Phnom Penh Cambodian police armed forces on a peaceful demonstration roundabout the Khbal Thnal circus of Chamcarmon District, Phnom Penh on June 11 at 9:00 AM.

The demonstration was held by workers of the TERRATEX garment factory based in Chak Agnre along National road 2 towards the Ministry of Social Affair, the Ministry of Commerce and the US Embassy in an attempt to urge the government and the factory owner to respond to their demands.

According to CHRAC’s own investigation, the demonstration lasted 3 days from 9 to 11 June 2003 following the resolution was not reached between the workers and the garment factory owner. The crackdown on the demonstration was conducted by the Chamcarmon district police and the Phnom Penh police commissariat. The reports indicate that approximately 200 police forces were given order to use AK and electric batons to disperse the demonstrators causing 4 of them injury. Information was also received that the police forces confiscated the demonstrators' loudspeaker and threatened to confiscate a human rights worker's camera.

CHRAC considers that the aforementioned crackdown is a violation of article 37 and 41 of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia which guarantees people to conduct peaceful demonstration within the framework of the law, and article 19 and 21 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which stipulates the people's rights to expressions and assembly.

CHRAC supports every peaceful demonstration and strongly condemns the crackdown and prevention by the authorities on the demonstrators. Such crackdown and prevention also badly affects the process of democracy in Cambodia.

CHRAC appeals to all government authorities to respect the people’s rights guaranteed by the Constitution and to let people enjoy their full rights of freedom of assembly and freedom of expression and to protect those rights during peaceful demonstrations. The government should clearly distinguish between the riot and the non-violent demonstration. The police forces can crack down on the riot but not on the peaceful demonstration.

For more information, please contact:
▪ Mr. Chun Sath, Acting Chairperson of CHRAC at 016 939 368
▪ Mr. Keat Sokun, Executive Director of KID, at 012 701 097

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