A local union leader was freed from prison after completing her sentence for leading a strike against the country’s biggest casino demanding the reinstatement of workers laid off during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Chhim Sithar had campaigned for the return of hundreds of workers laid off by NagaWorld casino in Phnom Penh, run by Hong Kong-listed gaming giant Nagacorp.
She was first arrested in January 2022 at a protest near the casino and sentenced in March of 2023 to two years in jail for “incitement” – a charge commonly used by Cambodian authorities against activists.
Her imprisonment was condemned by international groups including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International as an attack on unions and workers fighting for their fundamental rights.
Nuth Savna, a spokesperson for the prison department, said that Chhim Sithar was released and driven to her home by authorities early yesterday morning.
“We are happy for her freedom,” said trade unionist Chhim Sokhorn.
“She received unjust punishment. I hope she will continue to help promote workers’ labour rights,” she added
The kingdom has a complex relationship with gambling: a flood of Chinese money has driven a casino boom in the country, but Cambodians are barred from playing.
Last year, Chhim Sithar became the first Cambodian to receive the US government’s Human Rights Defender Award for her efforts to stand up for casino workers’ rights. — AFP
