Case History: Vorn Pao
On 5 January 2016, Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a threat of legal action against human rights defender Mr Vorn Pao while giving a speech at the inauguration of the Pram Makara overpass in Phnom Penh.
Vorn Pao is the President of the Independent Democracy of Informal Economic Association (IDEA), a labour group that unites around 4900 workers in Cambodia. The organisation, located in Phnom Penh, works towards the protection of the rights of informal workers such as street vendors, domestic workers and Tuk Tuk drivers.
On 5 January 2016, Prime Minister Hun Sen issued a threat of legal action against human rights defender Mr Vorn Pao while giving a speech at the inauguration of the Pram Makara overpass in Phnom Penh.
On 5 January 2016, Prime Minister Hun Sen threatened legal action against Vorn Pao for his role in the organisation of a memorial ceremony on 3 January 2016, which took place to mark the second anniversary of the deadly crackdown on workers' protests on Veng Sreng Boulevard in January 2014. The crackdown occurred in the wake of protests by garment factory workers in Phnom Penh, calling for an increase in minimum wages. The peaceful mourning ceremony organised to commemorate the death of several people during the events was dispersed by police and security forces.
Vorn Pao is currently awaiting a hearing at the Court Of Appeal which will take place on 26 January 2016. On 30 May 2014, the human rights defender was found guilty by the Phnom Penh Municipal Court of First Instance of instigating acts of intentional violence with aggravating circumstances, and received a suspended sentence of four and half years' imprisonment. The sentence is related to Vorn Pao's participation in the workers' protests held on 2 and 3 January 2014.
