Cambodia Police, Garment Workers Clash Amid Strike

27 December 2013
Wall Street Journal
Civil society / Crime and law enforcement / Economy and commerce / Garments and textiles / Industries / Infrastructure / Investment / Law and judiciary / Social development / Special economic zones
Cambodia National Rescue Party / Cambodian National Police / CNRP / CPP / Hun Sen / Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone / Rath Srieng

Police clashed Friday with a group of striking garment workers on the outskirts of Cambodia's capital, leaving about 20 people injured, police and workers said. The incident occurred when thousands of striking workers-marching from a province bordering the capital-tried to get into the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone, an industrial park where law-enforcement officers had set up road blocks to prevent entry, police said. Protesters said they wanted to enter the zone to encourage fellow workers to join their march, which called for a higher minimum wage than what the government had offered. The march was meant to end at Freedom Park in the heart of Phnom Penh, where Cambodia's main opposition force was staging a demonstration against Prime Minister Hun Sen's rule. ... Police fired warning shots and used batons to keep out protesters, who in turn threw rocks at officers, Phnom Penh military police commander Rath Srieng said, adding that the violence left about 10 police officers injured. Roughly 10 protesters were also hurt, workers said.

 Sun Narin and Chun Han Wong
http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303799404579283802423278442