Cambodia: Families face agonising wait after court detains protesters

By Robert Baird-By Asian Correspondent Feb 12, 2014

Poang Sarath was asleep at his home on January 3 when a standoff between stri ing garment wor ers and security at a nearby industrial par in Phnom Penh!s west turned ugly" #ccording to a statement obtained by the rights group $%C#&'() the *+-year-old had been resting at his home in ,ohaleap -illage after wor ing a night shift as a pri.ate security guard" 'is wife says se.eral garment wor ers entered Sarath!s room see ing shelter from the .iolence" Security forces followed them to his house and demanded Sarath open the door" /hen he refused) they fired li.e rounds into the wall) ic ed down the door and arrested him) she said" 'e was se.erely beaten during the arrest) and when his family .isited him more than a wee later he was bleeding from his lip) with pain and bruising all o.er his body"

Poang Sarath. Pic: LICADHO. %n two separate crac downs on January * and 3) *3 garment wor ers) unionists and bystanders li e Sarath were arrested and transported to the notorious CC3 prison north of Phnom Penh" 0hey were held incommunicado) and reportedly without ade1uate medical care) for almost a wee ) and most of them remain incarcerated at what is regarded as one of Cambodia!s harshest prisons" (n Saturday) the Phnom Penh ,unicipal court held an unannounced bail hearing and released two of the detainees 2 Bou Sarith and 3on So Chea 2 on bail" But hopes that as many as 45 of the men would also be released on 0uesday were dashed when the presiding 6udge at Phnom Penh!s #ppeals Court denied bail) saying their release would 7disturb public order"8

0he *3 men ha.e been charged with intentional .iolence and intentional damage) both with aggra.ating circumstances" 9,(R:: Cambodia: Rainsy returns as court eeps protesters in 6ail; 0he men still detained at CC3 could remain there for up to + months before trial) and if con.icted all *3 men face up to < years! imprisonment and fines" /hile they ha.e since recei.ed some medical treatment) rights groups remain concerned about the health of the detainees" Si=teen of the men began a hunger stri e on Sunday) and many sustained in6uries during their arrest) with reports of bruising) se.ere swelling and cuts to the head) arms and legs" #t least three of the men were reportedly beaten unconscious> one of whom 2 union leader -orn Pao 2 is still reco.ering from a ma6or operation late last year" Pao has warned his wife he is unli ely to sur.i.e in prison" ?0he police@ caught him and he was beaten unconscious A ?they@ poured water on his face to ma e him conscious to continue to beat him)8 she said"

orn Pao: Pic: LICADHO. 'is wife told $%C#&'( she belie.es police targeted him because of his role as a protest leader" #s the President of the %ndependent &emocracy of %nformal :conomy #ssociation 9%&:#;) Pao had been instrumental in drumming up support for the demonstrations" Factory owners ha.e accused protestors of damaging property after they set up burning barricades outside one factory and were alleged to ha.e thrown roc s and moloto. coc tails at security" ,any of those arrested are husbands and brothers of garment wor ers themsel.es) as the industry employs BCD women" 'owe.er) Sarath!s wife says neither she) a tailor) nor her husband were in.ol.ed in the demonstrations) part of a two-wee long stri e o.er a wage dispute" She says he cries when he thin s about his newborn son) and she wants to see him released soon" 'e did not 6oin the demonstration) he is 6ust a pri.ate security guard ?but@ he was beaten and put in prison)8 she said" Posted by 0ha.am