[lbo-talk] Fw: [H-LABOR] ICFTU condemns killing of Cambodian trade union leader

[Grant Lee]

> Subject: ICFTU condemns killing of Cambodian trade union leader
> 
> From: ICFTU Press <press at icftu.org>
> 
> INTERNATIONAL CONFEDERATION OF FREE TRADE UNIONS (ICFTU)
> 
> ICFTU Online: 009220104
> 
> 
> ICFTU condemns killing of Cambodian trade union leader
> 
> Brussels, January 22 (ICFTU OnLine): Cambodian trade union leader Chea
> Vichea was assassinated by three bullets shot at point blank range this
> morning, while he was reading a newspaper in a Phnom Penh street.
> 
> Upon learning of the murder of the Cambodian independent trade union
> movement's figurehead leader, the ICFTU has lodged a strong protest with
> the country's authorities,
> http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991218896&Language=EN
> demanding the immediate opening of an independent and impartial
> investigation, aimed at identifying and bringing to trial the
> assassination's material and intellectual authors. The ICFTU also urged
> Cambodia's authorities to publicly provide safety guarantees for the
> country's trade union activists and human rights defenders.
> 
> Further to the assassination, the ICFTU has also immediately lodged a
> complaint against the violation of trade union rights with the Committee
> on Freedom of Association of the Geneva-based International Labour
> Organisation (ILO).
> 
> As detailed in a new ICFTU report on Cambodia's textile industry, to be
> published tomorrow, 23 January 2004
> http://www.icftu.org/displaydocument.asp?Index=991218894&Language=EN the
> FTUWKC trade union, of which Chea Vichea was the President, had lodged a
> complaint in April 2003 with the ILO's Committee on Freedom of
> Association, in protest at the dismissal of over 30 trade unionists from
> Phnom Penh's INSM textile factory, including Vichea himself. Some
> textile producers "tend to threaten or to sack trade union activists or
> subject them to a whole series of punishments....", Vichea had recently
> told "Trade Union World".
> 
> Chea Vichea had received death threats on his cellular phone on the eve
> of Cambodia's national elections last year. In the last few weeks, at
> least three members of Sam Rainsy's opposition political party have been
> assassinated, while Cambodia has for the last six months gone through a
> severe political crisis, which has so far prevented it from putting a
> new government in place.
> 
> Chea Vichea's cremation has been announced for next Sunday and may lead
> to social protests, according to some observers.
> 
> The ICFTU represents over 151 million workers in 233 affiliated
> organisations in 152 countries and territories. ICFTU is also a member
> of Global Unions: http://www.global-unions.org
> 
> For more information, please contact the ICFTU Press Department on +32 2
> 224 0206
>