Canadia park, a ghost town
On most Sundays, the wide boulevard separating two rows of some 40 mustard-coloured factories in the Canadia Industrial Park is teeming with people.
Garment workers who live on the premises stroll or bicycle along the road, stopping to eat at the same restaurants, patronizing the same stores. For businesses lucky enough to be in Canadia’s microcosm of an economy, the 13,000 workers in the park have translated into a steady stream of revenue. But all that changed on Friday, when garment workers—many of whom held jobs at one of Canadia’s factories—clashed with military police and riots cops outside the park on Veng Sreng road. …
The demonstration took a fatal turn after authorities arrested protesters and rights activists on Thursday. That night, clashes broke out between angry protesters and violent police. By Friday morning, the fighting intensified, with police opening fire at demonstrators who were armed with rocks and homemade weapons.
By the afternoon, police had killed four people and injured more than 20, including bystanders. Soldiers moved in shortly after, sending many packing.
By Sunday, the once-busy streets of Canadia were silent.
The majority of workers had fled the violence over the weekend, leaving behind small groups brave enough to stick it out and try to collect their paychecks. …
Joe Freeman and Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/canadia-park-ghost-town
