On Friday, Cambodia’s Supreme Court made a final decision. It said Chhim Sithar must stay in jail for 2 years. Chhim Sithar is the leader of a group of casino workers. She led big protests against NagaWorld casino in the capital city Phnom Penh.
In late 2021, NagaWorld casino fired 373 workers because of money problems from COVID-19. Chhim Sithar organized protests with these fired workers. They wanted their jobs back. In January 2022, police arrested Chhim Sithar after one protest. The government said she encouraged illegal activities by protesting.
In May 2023, a lower court found Chhim Sithar guilty of the charges against her. The court sentenced her to 2 years in jail. The court also convicted 8 other union leaders who protested with her. Five of them got 1 1/2 years in jail. Three others got 1 year sentences but didn’t have to go to jail.
Chhim Sithar appealed her 2-year jail sentence to the Supreme Court. But on Friday, the highest court in Cambodia rejected her appeal. They said she must stay in jail for the full 2 years. The Supreme Court also upheld the jail sentences for the other convicted union leaders.
After the Supreme Court decision, some fired NagaWorld workers are still protesting. They want Chhim Sithar freed and their jobs back. But over 200 other fired workers accepted money payments instead of getting rehired. They are no longer protesting.
This high-profile case shows the difficulties for workers and unions in Cambodia. Critics say putting the union leader in jail is meant to scare workers from protesting. They argue it violates rights and shows problems protecting workers in Cambodia’s labor laws.
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