Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Cambodia's Number Comes Up

Thought I would give you a treat today:

"Cambodian garment workers block traffic over pay" Associated Press   December 28, 2013

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Striking workers who make shoes and clothes in Cambodia for Western brands blocked roads and briefly scuffled with police on Friday.

The workers are demanding an increase in the monthly minimum wage to $160.

The protesters snarled traffic in and around the capital, Phnom Penh, and blocked the entrance to the Labor Ministry.

Human rights activist Om Sam Ath said protesters blocking a highway threw stones at police, who fired into the air.

He said four workers were injured, but it was unclear how serious the injuries were.

Most of the country’s 500 factories have been closed since Thursday, when the manufacturers association urged its members to cease operations, citing the fear of violence.

The garment industry employs more than 500,000 people and is Cambodia’s biggest export earner. Companies like the country because of its low wages, but there are frequent strikes over pay and conditions.

Then why are they not reported in my agenda-pu$hing propaganda pre$$?

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"Protesters defy Cambodian leader" | New York Times   December 30, 2013

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia — Tens of thousands of antigovernment demonstrators marched through Phnom Penh on Sunday in one of the biggest acts of defiance against the nearly three-decade rule of Cambodia’s authoritarian prime minister, Hun Sen.

Hun Sen obviously not a favorite of the Jew World Order and its mouthpiece.

The procession, which was peaceful and stretched for several miles through a commercial district of Phnom Penh, the capital, brought together protesters with a diverse list of grievances: Buddhist monks, garment workers, farmers, and supporters of the main opposition party.

Oh, look, it's Occupy Cambodia and the agenda-pushing paper of $tatu$ quo corporate liberalism loves 'em!

They were united in their calls for Hun Sen to step down; their chants — “Hun Sen! Get Out!” — echoing down the broad avenue where they marched.

Another CIA-supported coup attempt?

In July, Hun Sen’s party claimed victory in disputed elections that the opposition and many independent monitoring organizations said were seriously flawed.

Sigh. I'm sick of the same old shit being rolled out hypocritical mouthpiece, sorry. 

Did they even have elections in Ukraine?

Hun Sen formed a government despite the growing protests by the opposition, which has boycotted Parliament and is calling for new elections.

Protesters blocking traffic and marching through downtown Phnom Penh remain a jarring sight after years during which the main message from the government has been that people should be grateful for the unity and development that Hun Sen brought to Cambodia after many years of war.

That's the same message my shit government sends!

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"Police fire on Cambodian protesters" by Gerry Mullany | New York Times   January 04, 2014

HONG KONG — Military police officers fired Friday on protesters demanding higher wages for Cambodian garment workers, killing at least three people, officials said, as antigovernment protests against the decades-old rule of Prime Minister Hun Sen entered a volatile new phase.

The garment workers are demanding a doubling of their monthly wages, and they have been at the forefront of growing protests against Hun Sen’s authoritarian government. On Sunday, tens of thousands of people rallied to demand that Hun Sen step down.

Friday’s violence south of Phnom Penh, the capital, marked a sharp escalation in the unrest. Protesters resisted police efforts to break up the demonstrations and some threw homemade explosives, setting fire to vehicles, and pelted officers with rocks and other projectiles. Police fired live ammunition and smoke canisters.

Because of the violence, the opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party withdrew Friday from planned talks with the government that were aimed at trying to resolve the crisis.

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RelatedUS brands need to step up for human rights in Cambodia

That is when the Globe stopped stitching about it.

At least the bird flu epidemic abated and Cambodia won't be going to war with Thailand thanks to the U.N., although I suppose Thailand's military has its own problems at the moment.