Relatives Call On Government To Release 23 Detainees

Relatives and human rights activists on Sunday called on the government to release 23 men beaten and arrested during clashes between police and garment workers just more than a week ago, and said they would defy a ban on public gatherings if they were not. The 23 protesters, union leaders and garment workers were apprehended during two days of violent demonstrations—for a doubling of the monthly minimum wage for garment workers to $160—that turned deadly on January 3 when military police shot and killed five people and wounded dozens more. The 23 have since been charged with intentionally causing violence and damage to property. At a press conference at the Phnom Penh home of one of the detainees, anti-eviction activist Chan Puthisak, about 40 relatives and activists condemned the men’s arrest and demanded their immediate release. … Making common cause with the activists and relatives of the 23 detainees, some 100 NGO representatives are scheduled to meet in Phnom Penh this morning to demand the detainees’ release and call on the government to end what they call the state’s excessive use of force.

 Mech Dara
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