Chea Vichea Case: Release of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun On Bail
Brussels, 6 January 2009 (ITUC OnLine): The ITUC welcomes the Cambodian Supreme Court decision on December 31, 2008 to
release Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun on bail and send the case back to the Court of Appeals to be retried.
The two men have spent close to five years in prison on false charges of killing labor leader Chea Vichea in a judicial
process marred by political interference, intimidation of witnesses, and other violations of international legal
standards. “A new and impartial investigation should be ordered without delay by the Cambodian government” said Guy
Ryder, ITUC General secretary. It is crucial that the real perpetrators and the ones that ordered his murder are found
and brought to justice.
Chea Vichea, 36, was the founder and president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC).
He was shot and killed in broad daylight in front of a news-stand in Phnom Penh on January 22, 2004. Vichea was well
known for his outspoken efforts to organize garment workers and to fight for improved working conditions in Cambodia,
work he continued in spite of death threats.
Trade unions operate under difficult circumstances in Cambodia and other trade union leaders and activists have been
killed or subjected to violent attacks or heavy intimidation.
The investigation into the high profile murder was marred by alleged police brutality, a forced confession by one of the
suspects, intimidation of witnesses, and political interference in the judicial process. The prosecution and conviction
of Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun drew extensive criticism at the time from trade unions, Cambodian and international
human rights activists, lawyers, and United Nations officials.
The ITUC represents 168 million workers in 311 affiliated national organisations from 155 countries. http://www.ituc-csi.org http://www.youtube.com/ITUCCSI
For further information, please contact the ITUC Press Department on: +32 2 224 0204 or +32 476 621 018.
ENDS