Beaten by riot police, another garment worker dies in Cambodia

Prays are offer up for the soul of 29 year old Moun Sokhmean at the pagoda near Phom Penh.

Fellow garment workers and his grieving family are here to say goodbye…

Moun Sokhmean worked for around three dollars a day making clothes for international brands since he was 17 years old. 

When fellow workers took to the streets in January demanding a pay rise, he join them.

When clashes broke out between police and the protestors the military opened fire with live bullets. 

Moun Sokhmean was badly beaten by riot police.

His father cries out for justice.

“My son is an innocent. He did not break any laws or abuse anyone. His death is a great injustice. I need the United nations and local and international organizations to find and provide justice for my son.”

The Cambodian government says it has conducted an independent investigation into the violence but has not released its findings.

Rights group LICADO has conducted its own investigation. Researcher with the group Orm Sam Artha says the government must take responsibility.

“We urge the government to bring the gun men before the courts to face justice. The impunity in Cambodia has to come to an end.  We still continue to condemn the attack on human rights in this county.”

Opposition party leader Sam Rainsy attend the funeral and promised his party will push for accountability.

“I would like to offer my condolences to the family.  It I is with great sadness that we are here today.  I would like to make a pledge that will try to get justice for the victims as soon as possible.”

To date, no members of the police or armed forces have been prosecuted for firing on unarmed civilians.

No compensation has been given to the injured or the families who lost loved ones.

Instead the government tried Twenty-five men, including several union leaders and community activists, for inciting the violence.

But this independent video footage taken by Cambodian journalists shows police instigating violence.

After nearly five months in detention on the 30th of May the court convicted all the men and issued sentences of up to four-and-a-half years before suspending the sentences and releasing the defendants to cheering crowds.

Vorn Pao --- one of the three union leaders vowed to continue the fight to raise wages and conditions in the factors.

“Long live our Cambodian compatriots. Long live our workers. We have to struggle to our freedom, to our rights and to our justice.”

Recently representatives from several major international brands, including Gap Puma met with government representatives in Phnom Penh.

According labour groups some of the brands said they would consider paying  higher factory costs if the minimum wage was raised.

It’s too late for Moun Sokhmean's wife, Pok Heab. She says she doesn’t know how she will support their family alone.

“Since he got seriously wounded in January it has been very difficult to feed my son and life has been very hard.  Now that he has gone life is going to get harder, we now very poor.”