ICJ Press Release on Cambodia Detainees

The ICJ recently released a press statement this week on the Phnom Penh's court decisions to deny bail for all 23 detainees. These detainees were involved in the garment protests which took place on the 2nd and 3rd January 2014.

Below is an excerpt:

Cambodia: detention of labour activists unjustified

The ICJ criticized the Phnom Penh Municipal Court’s decision to deny bail to 23 people who were arrested and detained earlier this month following protests by garment factory workers seeking a higher minimum wage.

The detainees’ lawyers told the ICJ that the court denied bail for the first nine detainees, arrested on 2 January 2014, in order to “guarantee their presence for further legal proceedings”, “to preserve public order” and “to prevent instability that results from the commission of crimes”.

The remaining 13 detainees, arrested on 3 January 2014, were denied bail in order to “end crime”, “prevent new crime” and “ensure detainees are available for trial”.

The decision to deny bail to the 22 detainees followed the Court’s decision on 13 January 2014 to deny bail to Vorn Pao, President of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economy Association (IDEA).

Please read the full article here: http://www.icj.org/cambodia-detention-of-labour-activists-unjustified/