A labor organizer from Cambodia received a two-year prison term for her involvement in demonstrations against a prominent gaming establishment. The individual, Chhim Sithar, had been a strong voice for numerous Cambodian employees dismissed from the NagaWorld casino in Phnom Penh during the COVID-19 outbreak. She insisted on their reemployment.
The previous Thursday, a Cambodian court determined she was culpable of provocation for her part in coordinating a work stoppage against the casino. Officials originally detained Sithar in January 2022 at a rally close to the casino. She was subsequently apprehended again in November for breaching bail stipulations after coming back from a gathering in Australia.
After the judgment, several ex-casino employees, who perceive the accusations against Sithar as politically driven, held a protest outside the court building. They vocally expressed their dissent as a correctional facility vehicle transported Sithar away.
Three fellow union representatives from Sithar’s organization were given suspended sentences of twelve months, while five others were put under judicial observation for a year and a half.
Advocacy organizations have consistently condemned Prime Minister Hun Sen, who has governed Cambodia for more than 38 years and is presently gearing up for elections in July, for utilizing the judicial framework to stifle dissent.
NagaWorld casino is run by NagaCorp, a Hong Kong-based corporation possessing the gaming monopoly in Cambodia.
The Kingdom of Cambodia is somewhat known for games of chance, though it’s prohibited by law for citizens to engage. In 2022, authorities took significant action, closing a large number of unlawful betting establishments. They have also been strongly promoting public understanding of the risks associated with wagering.
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