Phnom Penh (FN), June 19 – “Donald Trump SOS”, “US Embassy terminated us with injustice”, “Injustice Kills My Job, Kills My Life, Kill My Family” are some among the contents a group of former US embassy Phnom Penh staff wrote and shouted at the protests in front of the US embassy Phnom Penh near Wat Phnom from 8 a.m to 11 a.m on Tuesday.

At least 20 former staff, representing the 32 former employees terminated by the US Embassy Phnom Penh in April 2018, claimed 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.

Speaking to the press, they said they are requesting intervention from the Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen and American President Donald Trump to seek justice for them adding that they are hopeless at the embassy’s solution.

“I believe the US is the democratic country and that ambassador William A. Heidt will grant us justice. But he [ambassador] has yet uttered a word. We have waited three months already,” said former embassy staff Long Seng Kimhong who had served the embassy for almost 20 years.

“We are hopeless for the embassy as a country of democracy and rule of law, but violated Cambodian law. We submitted petitions to Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Labor, and the premier’s cabinet to seek justice for us,” he added.

He continued that those who has not faced injustice in the embassy is not really hurt and would say the US is just; those who face injustice will say the US is really unjust.

The 32 former US embassy staff 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.

These former staff who have individually worked for the embassy from 5 to 20 years demanded (1) justice from the forced and baseless dismiss; (2) a change of term from "dismiss" to "reduced employee"; (3) compensation for the defamation and violation of dignity due to the baseless accusations; and (4) granting rights for Khmer employee association to solve remaining problems that are unfair and unjust, as stated in law on the employment book.

In addition, they complained on (1) the violations of personal rights by confiscating their phones to check photos and other documents and keep for a while; (2) defamation and violation of dignity due to the baseless accusations; and (3) total the 12% bonus fund which has been missed for three months.
=FRESH NEWS

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