Leading Cambodian Trade Unionist faces imprisonment

international | rights, freedoms and repression | news report Friday November 11, 2005 11:49 by Jane Doran - Front Line janedoran at frontlinedefenders dot org www.frontlinedefenders.org

A Cambodian human rights defender, who came to Ireland to attend a conference, cannot return to his country because Cambodian authorities have issued a warrant for his arrest for signing a statement that criticised a border treaty with Vietnam

Chea Mony, Blackrock Co. Dublin

Chea Mony (36) president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) and a member of the Human rights organisation Cambodia Watchdog Council (CWC) was in Dublin attending Front Line’s 3rd Dublin Platform for Human Rights Defenders when the Cambodian authorities charged him and three other members of the CWC with defamation on 15 October

A government crackdown on human rights defenders began on 10 October when Hun Sen, the President of Cambodia signed a controversial land deal with Vietnam. Many Cambodians vehemently oppose the treaty, which they view as ceding their land to Vietnam. Hun Sen has told the Cambodian people on several occasions that he will arrest and jail those who voice their dissent. Some members of the opposition parties, human rights defenders and trade unionists have fled to neighbouring countries.

On 10 October, the director of the independent radio station, Beehive FM, Mom Sonando was arrested at his home and charged with defamation after he aired an interview with the head of the Washington based Cambodia’s Border Committee, Sean Pengse who condemned the treaty.

On 11 October, four members of the CWC released a statement criticizing Mom Sonando arrest, calling the land treaty unconstitutional and saying that signing it would give away approximately 5000 square kilometers of land and 10,000 square kilometers of sea territory. On 15 October one of the signatories, Rong Chhun, president of the Cambodia Teachers Association was arrested attempting to cross the Thai border and is currently in prison in Phnom Penh. Two other members of the CWC, Ea Channa and Men Nath are in hiding while Chea Mony remains with Front Line in Dublin.

“This recent crackdown on human rights defenders in Cambodia is extremely worrying. President Hun Sen needs to realize that in a true democracy, the decisions of leaders will be criticised” said Director of Front Line, Mary Lawlor.


The FTUWKC is a union that organizes and protects the rights of garment workers. Chea Mony was elected president of the FTUWKC, following the assassination of the previous president; his brother Chea Vichea, in a busy Phnom Penh street on January 22, 2004.

In his testimony at the Front Line platform Chea Mony stated: “the governments investigation into my brothers murder was unsatisfactory and its suspects are believed to be scapegoats and witnesses have been intimated”

After the murder of Chea Vichea, which is believed to be politically motivated, Intimation, threats, assaults and killings of trade unionists and human rights defenders escalated in Cambodia and peaceful protests have resulted in violent police retaliation. Chea Mony was himself arrested briefly earlier this year when he attempted to stop police arresting garment workers who were peacefully protesting against their bad working conditions.

Since the anti-Thai riots in 2003, the rights to freedom of assembly and association have been severely restricted in Cambodia

Front line has called on the Cambodian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Rong Chhun and Mam Sonando and revoke the arrest warrants that have been issued against Chea Mony, Man Nath and Ear Channa and ensure all human rights defenders in Cambodia are free to carry out their human rights work without fear of reprisals.