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Cambodia garment workers killed in clashes with police | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police have opened fire on striking Cambodian garment workers, killing three and injuring several more. | |
Shots were fired on Friday after the workers blocked a road south of the capital, Phnom Penh, and clashed with the police, eyewitnesses said. | |
The textile workers have been protesting and demanding the minimum wage be doubled. | The textile workers have been protesting and demanding the minimum wage be doubled. |
Cambodia has around 500,000 workers in the garment industry, which is a key source of national income. | Cambodia has around 500,000 workers in the garment industry, which is a key source of national income. |
The workers are demanding a minimum wage of $160 (£97) a month. The government has offered an increase to around $100 (£60). | The workers are demanding a minimum wage of $160 (£97) a month. The government has offered an increase to around $100 (£60). |
Chan Soveth, an activist from rights group Adhoc, told AFP news agency that security forces "used rifles and other things to crack down on the strikers" at Friday's protest. | Chan Soveth, an activist from rights group Adhoc, told AFP news agency that security forces "used rifles and other things to crack down on the strikers" at Friday's protest. |
Military police spokesman Kheng Tito told AFP that the police cracked down on protesters after nine policemen were injured in the clashes. | Military police spokesman Kheng Tito told AFP that the police cracked down on protesters after nine policemen were injured in the clashes. |
"We were afraid about the security so we had to crack down on them... If we allow them to continue the strike it will become anarchy," he said. | |
Two protesters had been arrested, he added. | Two protesters had been arrested, he added. |
On Thursday, Cambodian soldiers broke up another protest by striking garment workers, with witnesses saying some protesters were hurt. | |
The industrial action comes after the government faced weeks of protests demanding Prime Minister Hun Sen step down. | |
The opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) has led rallies and strikes calling for a new election and alleging vote fraud in the last election. In recent weeks, they have been joined by the garment workers. |