Unionists’ jailing compared with Bandith
Since her husband was arrested in June and thrown in provincial prison to await trial, Soam Chantha, 32, has given birth to a baby boy. …
At the same time the men have been locked up, police have failed to arrest former Bavet governor Chhouk Bandith, who was sentenced to 18 months in prison on June 25 for shooting three garment workers during a protest at a Puma supplier in Svay Rieng province in February last year.
The union members have been charged with inciting violence that injured 23 people, including police officers, and destroying property. …
“I’m not talking about the legality or illegality of the [Sabrina] strike, but it blatantly highlights the inconsistencies of the legal system,” said Dave Welsh, country manager for rights group Solidarity Center/ACILS. “It’s embarrassing a guilty man is … free despite calls from everyone … for his arrest, while some of the poorest workers in the world are languishing in pre-trial detention. …
While a person can be ordered into pre-trial detention for a number of reasons, including if he or she is considered a flight risk or deemed likely to re-offend, the law states that pre-trial detention should only be used in exceptional circumstances.
But according to Naly Pilorge, director of rights group Licadho, the reality is that non-custodial pre-trial measures are rare.
“It is really only those who are able to pay a lawyer or afford bail money who escape pre-trial detention,” she said. “As those with money can often get out with bail money, the majority of pretrial detainees are generally poor.” …
Shane Worrell and Mom Kunthear
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/unionists-jailing-compared-bandith
