RFA Journalists Burn Tires Against Dismissal

Saturday, 26 September 2009
Written by DAP NEWS

Three famous and important of Radio Free Asia (RFA) Khmer Service in Phnom Penh on Friday evening held a protest by burning tires in front of its main office as its top leaders is continuing to fire them unreasonably.

Those workers are Huy Vannak, Seng Sorphaorn and Thai Sothea held the burning demonstration. The demonstration was made following their top leaders, Kim Sos, who decided to fire Huy Vannak and Thai Sothea.

Huy Vannak is known as he often reports related to human right abuse, anti-corruption, land disputes, human trafficking, especially he hosts call shows for RFA Khmer Service program. Thai Sothea is FRA website monitoring chief. Totally, the top leaders of RFA in Phnom Penh so far has fired three workers including Seang Sorphorn, who was fired on Thursday. firing Huy Vannak and Thai Sothea following, both of them opposed to sack Seang Sorphaorn showing that this demission due to revenge and abuse of internal regulation.

Chea Mony, Cambodia Free Trade Union President, on Friday told DAP News Cambodia that it is not legal.

“According to the law, if any worker is working more than two years, to fire them has to be done as they have mistakes, but if any firing without reason, it is to be said illegally,” he confirmed.

Among those workers at RFA,only one person has been working for RFA more than two years as it follows the law.

Huy Vannak and Thai Sothea called this firing as illegal as saying that “This is not legal that I have to protest.”

Kim Sos refused to comments to DAP News Cambodia with this matters as he asked to return questions to the main office in Washington DC, USA.

The protesters reiterated that they will send a statement to US Embassy in Phnom Penh continuing to protest if not having any resolutions in these matters.