A Cambodian union leader was released from prison on Monday ( Sep 16 ) after serving her sentence for organizing a strike against the nation’s largest casino demanding the reinstatement of workers who had been fired during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chhim Sithar had fought for the reinstatement of NagaWorld Casino, which was owned by Hong Kong-listed entertainment company Nagacorp, and where hundreds of workers were laid off by NagaWorld in Phnom Penh.
She was first detained in a rally near the casino in January 2022, and she received a two-year prison sentence in March of that year for “incitement,” a practice practiced by Thai authorities against activists.
International organizations like Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International criticized her prison as an attack on staff and unions fighting for their basic right.
Chhim Sithar was released and driven to her house by government early on Monday night, according to Nuth Savna, a spokeswoman for the incarceration office.
” We are glad for her freedom”, trade nationalist Chhim Sokhorn told AFP.
” She received cruel sentence. I’m optimistic that she will continue to support staff ‘ labor rights.