Brussels, 01/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Sunday 1 June, the European Union welcomed the release on 30 May of the trade unionists and garment workers who had been charged in relation to the demonstrations for higher pay at the beginning of January. The European Union's external action service asserted that “the EU hopes that this latest development indicates a positive shift in the recently deteriorating situation of the freedom of assembly in Phnom Penh and the recurrent harassment of trade unionists”.
On Friday 30 May, the municipal court in the Cambodian capital, Phnom Penh, found the 23 union activists and two minors guilty of the charges connected to the violent demonstrations but decided to release them. Four of them had fines imposed of around €1,500.
The EU has urged the Royal Government of Cambodia to speed up the restoration of freedom of association and workers' and trade unionists' rights and to publish the results of the investigation into the murders of at least four people during the demonstrations. The forces responsible for law and order fired on demonstrators. Scores of demonstrators were also injured. The United Nations Human Rights Office and the International Labour Organisation have called for an enquiry into the affair.
The EEAS added that “the EU calls on all stakeholders to engage in the development of a constructive dialogue on improving industrial relations”. The EU's external action service also pointed out that the EU was Cambodia's largest export market, “especially for the garment sector” and warned that the EU and its citizens “attach great importance to the respect of fundamental rights”. (CG)