After jail, Pov gains following

4 June 2014
The Phnom Penh Post
Civil society / Crime and law enforcement / Garments and textiles / Government / Human rights / Industries / Judiciary and courts / Labor / Labor policy and administration / Law and judiciary / Social development / Unions
Cambodia National Rescue Party / Cambodian Center for Human Rights / CCHR / CNRP / Community Legal Education Center / Council of Ministers / Human Rights Watch / IDEA / Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association / Kem Sokha / Moeun Tola / Phay Siphan / Tonle Bassac commune / Vorn Pov

Before he was arrested in January, Vorn Pov and the union he created were not widely known outside of activist circles. But when he emerged from Phnom Penh’s CC1 prison on Friday, he walked away as one of the highest-profile unionists in the country, and a minor celebrity. According to Pov, his Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA) has recruited more than 1,000 new members since he was beaten and dragged away by soldiers outside the Yakjin garment factory amid worker protests on January 3. That his group has since burgeoned in popularity is not surprising. The 23 protesters and activists who were imprisoned during January’s demonstrations, and finally released on Friday with suspended sentences, became a cause célèbre, drawing widespread attention from local and global unions, rights groups, brands, embassies and media. …

 Kevin Ponniah, May Titthara and Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/after-jail-pov-gains-following