Cambodian police kill three workers at factory pay protest

At least three people were killed when Cambodian police apparently opened fire to try and quell a protest by factory workers.

16:28 03 January 2014

On Friday, thousands of clothing factory workers staged a protest at the country’s city capital Phonm Pehn. Security forces, who were deployed to try and quell the protest, reportedly opened fire after protesters refused to disperse and threw bottles, stones, and petrol bombs outside a factory. This led to the death of at least three protesters.

The incident is connected to the escalating political crisis in the city’s capital. Unions and opposition supporters are working together calling for a rerun of Cambodia’s elections from last July. The opposition alleges 2.3 million of its votes were stolen to allow the ruling Cambodia People’s Party to return to office.

The government has also refused to raise wages beyond $100 a month and has ordered for the reopening of factories to prevent damage and job losses.

Military police spokesman Kheng Tito, who said that there was only one casualty despite two witnesses saying otherwise, said: "We are sorry we heard one was killed and some were injured. But we were just following our duty, role and tasks. Now, we are securing the situation."