Cambodian Human Rights Defender Killed

Hy Vuthy, the President of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC) was shot dead by two unidentified assailants on his way home from work on 24 February 2007.

Hy Vuthy’s killing is the latest act in a pattern of intimidation against FTUWKC members at the Suntex and Bright Sky garment factories in Phnom Penh. He is the fourth member of the FTUWKC to be killed in relation to his work with the trade union. Former Presidents of the FTUWKC, Chea Vichea and Ros Sovannareth, were both killed in similar attacks in 2004. Reportedly, Hy Vuthy’s widow has been the subject of intimidating behaviour since the killing of her husband. On the same evening as her husband’s death her home was surrounded by unidentified men on motorbikes who hurled stones at her house, and on 25 February motorcycles again surrounded her house.

On 20 February, Hy Vuthy filed a letter with the management of the SunTex Garment Factory to request a holiday for the factory employees in order to celebrate the Khmer New Year. The following day two members of the Cambodian Union Federation (CUF), a governmental union in Cambodia, approached Hy Vuthy and criticised his actions in trying to secure a holiday for the workers.

Front Line believes Hy Vuthy was killed so as to obstruct his human rights work. Front Line urges the Cambodian authorities to carry out a full impartial and prompt investigation into the killing of Hy Vuthy with those responsible brought to justice. Front Line also calls on the authorities to guarantee the safety of FTUWKC union members and their families, in particular Hy Vuthy’s widow. Front Line also calls on the authorities to gaurantee that all trade unions and human rights defenders in Cambodia are free to carry out their legitimate activities in defending and protecting the rights of others.