Interim Report - Report No 362, November 2011

Case No 2318 (Cambodia) - Complaint date: 22-JAN-04 - Active

Allegations: The murder of three trade union leaders; the continuing repression of trade unionists in Cambodia

1. 328. The Committee has already examined the substance of this case on six occasions, most recently at its November 2010 session where it issued an interim report, approved by the Governing Body at its 309th Session [see 358th Report, paras 321–334].
2. 329. As the Government has not replied, the Committee has been obliged to adjourn its examination of this case. At its May 2011 meeting [see the Committee’s 360th Report, para. 5], the Committee made an urgent appeal to the Government indicating that, in accordance with the procedural rules set out in paragraph 17 of its 127th Report (1972), approved by the Governing Body, it could present a report on the substance of the case at its next meeting even if the observations or information requested had not been received in due time. To date, the Government has not sent any information.
3. 330. Cambodia has ratified the Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise Convention, 1948 (No. 87), and the Right to Organise and Collective Bargaining Convention, 1949 (No. 98). It has not ratified the Workers’ Representatives Convention, 1971 (No. 135).

A. Previous examination of the case

1. 331. In its previous examination of the case, the Committee made the following recommendations [see 358th Report, para. 334]:
   • (a) As a general matter regarding all the subsequent issues, the Committee once again strongly urges the Government to take measures to ensure that the trade union rights of all workers in Cambodia are fully respected and that trade unionists are able to exercise their activities in a climate free of intimidation and risk to their personal security and their lives, and that of their families.
   • (b) The Committee requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are exonerated of the charges brought against them and that the bail be returned to them. Furthermore, the Committee once again urges the Government to ensure that a thorough and independent investigation into the murder of Chea Vichea is carried out expeditiously, so as to ensure that all available information will finally be brought before the courts in order to determine the actual murderers and instigators of the assassination of this trade union leader, punish the guilty parties and thus bring to an end the prevailing situation of impunity as regards violence against trade union leaders. The Committee requests to be kept informed in this regard.
   • (c) The Committee once again strongly urges the Government to ensure that a full and independent investigation into the circumstances of trade union leader Ros Sovannareth’s murder is finally carried out so as to bring all relevant information before the courts. It also urges the Government to ensure that Thach Saveth may exercise his right to a full appeal as soon as possible, before an impartial and independent judicial authority, and requests to be kept informed of any pending appeals.
   • (d) As concerns trade union leader Hy Vuthy, the Committee once again urges the Government to immediately institute or reactivate a full and independent inquiry into his murder and to keep it informed of all progress made in this regard.
   • (e) The Committee insists that the Government indicate the steps taken for capacity building and the institution of safeguards against corruption necessary for the independence and effectiveness of the judicial system.
   • (f) The Committee strongly urges the Government, once again, to institute without delay independent judicial inquiries into the assaults on trade unionists Lay Sophead, Pul Sopheak, Lay Chhamroeun, Chi Samon, Yeng Vann Nuth, Out Nun, Top Savy, Lem Samrith, Chey Rithy, Choy Chin, Lach Sambo, Yeon Khum and Sal Koem San, and to keep it informed of the results of these inquiries.
   • (g) The Committee strongly requests the Government to indicate the steps taken to prevent the blacklisting of trade unionists.
   • (h) With regard to the dismissals of Lach Sambo, Yeom Khun and Sal Koem San following their convictions for acts undertaken in connection with a strike at the Genuine garment factory, the Committee once again requests the Government to inform it of the status of their appeals proceedings and to indicate their current employment status.
   • (i) The Committee continues to express its profound concern with the extreme seriousness of the case and the repeated absence of information on the steps taken to investigate the above matters in a transparent, independent and impartial manner, a necessary prerequisite to creating a climate free from violence and intimidation necessary for the full development of the trade union movement in Cambodia.
   • (j) Given the lack of progress on these very essential points, the Committee is bound once again to call the Governing Body’s special attention to the extreme seriousness and urgency of the issues in this case.

B. The Committee’s conclusions

1. 332. The Committee deeply regrets that, despite the time that has passed since it last examined this case, the Government has not provided its observations, although it has been invited on a number of occasions, including by means of an urgent appeal, to present its comments and observations on the case. The Committee urges the Government to be more cooperative in the future.
2. 333. Under these circumstances and in accordance with the applicable rules of procedure [see 127th Report, para. 17, approved by the Governing Body at its 184th Session (1972)], the Committee finds itself obliged to present a report on the substance of the case without the benefit of the information which it had expected to receive from the Government.
3. 334. The Committee recalls that the purpose of the whole procedure established by the International Labour Organization for the examination of allegations of violations of freedom of association is to promote respect for this freedom in law and in fact. The Committee remains confident that, if the procedure protects governments from unreasonable accusations, governments on their side will recognize the importance of formulating, for objective examination, detailed replies concerning allegations made against them [see the Committee’s First Report, para. 31].
4. 335. Concerning the murder of the trade union leader Ros Sovannareth, the Committee notes that according to the information provided by the Government to the Committee of Experts on the Application of Conventions and Recommendations the accused, Thach Saveth, was released on bail on 2 March 2011 by the Supreme Court and that the re-investigation of the case has been ordered. The Committee once again strongly urges the Government to ensure that a full and independent investigation into the circumstances of trade union leader Ros Sovannareth’s murder is finally carried out so as to bring all relevant information before the courts. The Committee requests the Government to keep it informed of the measures taken in this regard.
5. 336. As concerns the trade union leader Hy Vuthy, the Committee understands that the Supreme Court ordered the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to reopen the investigation into his death on 3 November 2010. The Committee requests the Government to confirm this information and once again urges it to immediately institute or reactivate a full and independent inquiry into his murder and to keep it informed of all progress made in this regard.
6. 337. Concerning the other allegations, the Committee is bound to reiterate its previous recommendations and firmly expects that the Government will provide its observations without further delay.

The Committee's recommendations

1. 338. In the light of its foregoing interim conclusions, the Committee invites the Governing Body to approve the following recommendations:
   • (a) The Committee deeply regrets that, despite the time that has passed since it last examined this case, the Government has not provided its observations, although it has been invited on a number of occasions, including by means of an urgent appeal, to present its comments and observations on the case. The Committee urges the Government to be more cooperative in the future.
   • (b) As a general matter regarding all the subsequent issues, the Committee once again strongly urges the Government to take measures to ensure that the trade union rights of all workers in Cambodia are fully respected and that trade unionists are able to exercise their activities in a climate free of intimidation and risk to their personal security and their lives, and that of their families.
   • (c) The Committee once again urges the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that Born Samnang and Sok Sam Oeun are exonerated of the charges brought against them and that the bail be returned to them. Furthermore, the Committee once again strongly urges the Government to ensure that thorough and independent investigations into the murders of Chea Vichea, Ros Sovannareth and Hy Vuthy are carried out expeditiously, so as to ensure that all available information will finally be brought before the courts in order to determine the actual murderers and instigators of the assassination of this trade union leader, punish the guilty parties and thus bring to an end the prevailing situation of impunity as regards violence against trade union leaders. The Committee requests to be kept informed in this regard.
   • (d) As concerns trade union leader Hy Vuthy, the Committee requests the Government to confirm that the Supreme Court ordered the Phnom Penh Municipal Court to reopen the investigation into his death on 3 November 2010.
   • (e) Recalling the importance it attaches in this case to capacity building and the institution of safeguards against corruption necessary for the independence and effectiveness of the judicial system, the Committee strongly urges the Government to indicate the steps taken in this regard.
   • (f) The Committee strongly urges the Government, once again, to institute without delay independent judicial inquiries into the assaults on trade unionists Lay Sophead, Pul Sopheak, Lay Chhamroeun, Chi Samon, Yeng Vann Nuth, Out Nun, Top Savy, Lem Samrith, Chey Rithy, Choy Chin, Lach Sambo, Yeon Khum and Sal Koem San, and to keep it informed of the results of these inquiries.
   • (g) The Committee strongly requests the Government to indicate the steps taken to prevent the blacklisting of trade unionists.
   • (h) With regard to the dismissals of Lach Sambo, Yeom Khun and Sal Koem San following their convictions for acts undertaken in connection with a strike at the Genuine garment factory, the Committee once again requests the Government to inform it of the status of their appeals proceedings and to indicate their current employment status.
   • (i) The Committee continues to express its profound concern with the extreme seriousness of the case and the repeated absence of information on the steps taken to investigate the above matters in a transparent, independent and impartial manner, a necessary prerequisite to creating a climate free from violence and intimidation necessary for the full development of the trade union movement in Cambodia.
   • (j) Given the lack of progress on these very essential points, the Committee is bound once again to call the Governing Body’s special attention to the extreme seriousness and urgency of the issues in this case.