Concern over migration chief’s family connections
The appointment of General Sok Phal to head the Interior Ministry’s newly formed department to monitor migrant workers has raised concerns over his close familial connection to a labor recruitment industry fraught with human rights abuses. Gen. Phal’s sister, Ung Seang Rithy, is the owner of one of the biggest labor recruitment agencies sending Cambodian workers overseas. Sak Setha, a secretary of state at the Interior Ministry, confirmed Tuesday that the department of immigration would deal with migrants entering and leaving the country. … Ouk Savouth, prosecutor-general of the Phnom Penh Appeal Court, confirmed that Gen. Phal was the brother of Ms. Seang Rithy, owner of the Ung Rithy Group, which has been named by rights groups as a serial abuser of Cambodian migrant workers. Ms. Seang Rithy is also president of the Association of Cambodian Recruitment Agencies. Gen. Phal is scheduled to assume his responsibility as director-general of the general department of immigration in a ceremony today at the Interior Ministry. The Ung Rithy Group has been blasted for its recruitment and training practices. Dozens of returned maids have filed complaints with human rights groups outlining serious abuses, including debt bondage, forced confinement and underage recruitment. Many also had wages and passports withheld. Despite the raft of complaints, no one has ever been prosecuted. Phil Robertson, Human Rights Watch deputy director for Asia, said Wednesday that the lack of justice for abused maids was due to links between agencies and powerful officials, and that Gen. Phal’s new role would strengthen that connection. …
Matt Blomberg and Aun Pheap
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/concern-over-migration-chiefs-family-connections-57202/
