Following global outcry about a lack of support for humanitarian rights, Cambodia’s government promised to do better. However, it doesn’t appear to be willing to back that statement up with actions. A Cambodian court just sentenced Chhim Sithar, a labor union leader who helped lead strikes against the NagaWorld casino, to two years in prison.
Sithar, a recipient of the US State Department’s Human Rights Defender Award, has repeatedly been a target of Cambodia’s government. She has been highly active in a peaceful fight to force NagaCorp, NagaWorld’s owner, to rehire certain unionized employees it fired during COVID-19.
The union boss has been arrested several times, according to human rights groups, and denied basic human rights in the process. Her most recent arrest was last November, with the Cambodian government repeatedly drumming up charges in an attempt to send a message.
Sithar, a recipient of the US State Department’s Human Rights Defender Award, has repeatedly been a target of Cambodia’s government. She has been highly active in a peaceful fight to force NagaCorp, NagaWorld’s owner, to rehire certain unionized employees it fired during COVID-19.
The union boss has been arrested several times, according to human rights groups, and denied basic human rights in the process. Her most recent arrest was last November, with the Cambodian government repeatedly drumming up charges in an attempt to send a message.