Phnom Penh (FN), June 19 - Speaking to the press during a protest in front of the US embassy Phnom Penh near Wat Phnom on Tuesday, a dismissed US embassy employee requested Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen to intervene for justice.
“I would like to call on Prime Minister Hun Sen to seek justice for us. We think that working with the embassy is just, but it is not; they even violated employment book,” said Long Seng Kimhong, former staff who has served the embassy for 19 years.
“It is even worse when the embassy official said that firing us will make us foodless,” he added saying it offended Khmer people.
The former employees said that the dismissal does not only affect themselves, but also their families, children’s education, and other daily expenses. Hence, only Prime Minister Hun Sen could seek justice for them.
At least 20 former staff, representing the 32 former employees fired by the US Embassy Phnom Penh in April 2018, claimed Tuesday that the dismissal was premeditated, as it was not reasonable at all. They were accused of sharing a porn photo in a private Facebook group messenger.
These former staff have submitted petitions to Cambodian Ministry of Labor, Prime Minister Hun Sen’s Cabinet, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the assistance and justice. They hold non-violence protests and a press conference from 8 a.m to 11 a.m today. They informed that they will continue to do so until achieving solutions.
=FRESH NEWS