Factory Administrator Beaten in Protest Brawl

An administrative assistant at the Win Cam factory in Phnom Penh’s Chroy Changva district was beaten by angry workers on Friday when he tried to take video of a protest for better pay.

As some 400 workers protested outside the factory, an assistant to the administration officer, known to workers only as Mr. Leng, approached the crowd, taking video footage of their protest.

In a separate video posted to the Internet, Mr. Leng can be seen being attacked by the mob, beaten to the ground and then repeatedly struck as he attempted to stand up and run away.

“We asked him not take video because the factory will accuse us of incitement. That is their habit when protests happen,” said Vath Somnang, president of Trade Union Federation Democracy Lucky Worker.

Mr. Somnang claimed that 8 workers were also injured in an ensuing melee with factory security guards, and said he would file a complaint with the Chroy Changva district office.

The staff of Win Cam had been protesting for two weeks for an increase in their salary and other benefits.

Neither Mr. Leng nor a representative of the factory could be reached for comment.

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