Unions to Proceed With Mass Rally in Freedom Park Despite Ban
Unions planning a mass rally at Phnom Penh’s Freedom Park on Sunday to call for the release of 23 detainees and a higher minimum wage in the garment industry say they will proceed with the event despite City Hall’s decision Thursday to deny permission.
The nine unions, some of them representing the country’s 600,000 garment workers, want a higher minimum wage for the industry and the release of 23 men arrested earlier this month while protesting outside Phnom Penh factories.
The unions had asked the city for permission to stage a rally of 10,000 people despite a ban on public protests the Interior Ministry imposed in Phnom Penh on January 4.
After having their request denied at a meeting with City Hall officials Thursday morning, the unions said they would go ahead with the rally regardless. …
The government has allowed some demonstrations to go ahead unhindered since the ban, but has clamped down violently on others and temporarily detained 11 peaceful protesters in the past week.
“Regarding the demonstration on 26 January 2014 from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm at Freedom Park, City Hall does not allow it,” the municipality said in a letter signed by deputy governor Khuong Sreng. …
