Phnom Penh: 11 activists arrested, part of "hard line" on protests
Phnom Penh ( AsiaNews / Agencies) - Cambodian police arrested 11 activists this morning as they tried to deliver a petition to some foreign embassies in Phnom Penh , the goal is to mobilize international public opinion for the liberation of twenty protesters - detained by the government during the brutal repression of protests earlier this month. Soveth Chan, representative of the pro - human rights ADHOC, said that the activists were arrested trying to deliver the petition to four foreign diplomatic missions, including the United States and France. He adds that the country is heading towards "communism and totalitarianism". Even the United Nations has expressed "deep alarm" over the "disproportionate" use of force by the security authorities in Cambodia.
The 23 people were arrested in early January, while participating in demonstrations against the government of Prime Minister Hun Sen organized by textile workers and the parliamentary opposition. The police refuse to release official statements or explain the charges and reasons for the detention of 11 activists today . Reached by AFP on the phone while being taken to prison , the president of the Cambodian Confederation of Trade Unions Rong Chhun said that "we have not committed any violence", "we only exercised our freedom of expression".
Meanwhile, the government headed by Prime Minister Hun Sen has banned public demonstrations, protests and strikes in the capital Phnom Penh. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy has promised his movement "will not stop" the fight until they obtain the resignation of the Prime Minister and the entire government.
In the second half of 2013, tens of thousands of workers, led by the two main trade unions have called several protests against the government. Unions, workers and opposition have united in tehir drive for a doubling of the minimum wage from the current a month to 160. However, so far they have managed to achieve an increase of only per month (the government offered a maximum of 100) , applied from April 2014. The strikes threaten to cripple the manufacturing industry, one of the most vital and thriving with 650 thousand employees and a multi- billionaire turnover, linked to the production of garments for major Western brands.
For the first time in nearly 30 years in power Prime Minister Hun Sen faces growing and widespread popular discontent. The coming together of the parliamentary opposition and textile workers could pose a challenge to his rule that has been unchallenged for decades until now . Cambodian policy experts point out that "if the two movements were to unite and merge, they would represent a very serious threat to the Hun Sen regime". This is why the authorities need to resort to the use of force to nip the drift that had taken over popular discontent in the bud.
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