Chea Vichea, a prominent union leader, was gunned down in broad daylight near a newspaper stand, in central Phnom Penh, on 22 January 2004. Vichea was the leader of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTUWKC). He had been recently dismissed by the INSM Garment Factory as a reprisal for helping to establish a trade union at the company; demanding decent wages and working conditions.

Every year, union members and workers come to Wat Langka, where the unionist was murdered, to celebrate his legacy. Cambodian Labour Confederation president Ath Thorn who participated in the ceremony said finding Vichea’s murderer was essential to safeguard the lives of union leaders in Cambodia. “The authorities must ensure that unions are allowed to carry out their work and that workers’ rights are respected. Laws that cut back benefits for workers must be stopped,” he said, adding that the government must do more to end violence against union leaders.