Japan Asked Government to Protect Its Interests During Strike

Japan has expressed its deep concern about the situation in Cambodia following the deadly crackdown on striking garment workers last Friday, and admitted Thursday that it had contacted the government during the protests to ask for protection of Japanese citizens and companies. Military police armed with AK-47 assault rifles shot five people dead and wounded 42 more after opening fire on protesters outside the Canadia Industrial Park in Phnom Penh’s Pur Senchey district, bringing to a bloody conclusion a week of mostly peaceful demonstrations by garment factory workers calling for an increase to their minimum wage. Brigadier General Kheng Tito, spokesman for the National Military Police, said after the bloodletting that his officers had acted with deadly force to protect factories and private property inside the business park. …

Simon Henderson
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/japan-asked-government-to-protect-its-interests-during-strike-50399/