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The nomination of the brother of the slain union leader Chea Vichea recognises courageous work in dangerous labor environment

By Neth Pheaktra and Robbie Corey-Boulet, The Phnom Penh Post, February 13, 2009

Union leader Chea Mony has been nominated for the 2009 Martin Ennals Award, a prize given by 10 leading human rights NGOs to an individual who has "demonstrated and exceptional record of combating human rights violations by couragous and innovative means", the London-based charity One World Action announced in a press release distributed Thursday.

Chea Mony, president of the Free Trade Union of Workers of the Kingdom of Cambodia (FTU), is the brother of Chea Vichea, a union leader who was shot and killed near Wat Lanka in 2004. "This award would mean the world would recognise my hard work defending garment factory workers as well as human rights and justice in Cambodia society, " Chea Mony told the Post Thursday.

"Everyday I work and protest against social justice without worrying about my personal security."

"Cambodia is a very dangerous place in which to be a trade unionist," reads the release announcing Chea Mony's nomination.

"Even though the constitution guarantees citizen the right to establish and belong to trade union, labor unions face sever pressure and intimidation."

Organizations behind the award, which will be given in May, include Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the International Federation of Human Rights.

One World Action describes itself as a partner of the FTU and presentd it with the Sternberg Award in 2007 for its"outstanding commitment to human rights".

The court of appeal will rule February 18 on whether to uphold the conviction of Thach Saveth for the 2004 murder of union leader Ros Sovannareth, president of Free Trade Union of Workers of Trinonggal Kumara Garment Factory said presiding judge Um Sarith at the end of a two-hour hearing Wednesday. The conviction has been widely condemned by rights groups who attended the hearing in force. Three judges heard the prosecution and defense restate their respective cases, which largely resembled those offered during the original trial in 2005. At that trial, the prosecution successfully argued that Thach Saveth was one of two assailants who gunned down Ros Sovannareth on Kampuchea Krom Boulevard on May 7, 2004. Thach Saveth was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Prosecutor Pan Kimleang said during the hearing Wednesday that he still believed Thach Saveth was one of the killers, arguing that account provided by the Tuol Kork district police officers who originally detained him proved his guilt.

But Sam Sokong, a lawyer for the Cambodian Defenders Project working as part of Thach Saveth's defence team, said his client was in Siem Reap on the night of the killing, adding that relative traveling with him could corroborate the alibi.

In a statement released after the hearing Wednesday, the rights groups Licadho argued that the 2005 conviction was "based on prosecution witness who did not appear in court and therefore could not be cross-examined". Defence on behalf of Thach Saveth, the statement claims, "were ignored".

Prosecutor Pan Kimleang said at Wednesday's hearing that the alibi would be more credible if it did not rely exclusively on the testimony of Thach Saveth's relatives.

For this part, Thach Saveth maintained his innocence and pleaded for the court to "give justice to me because I really didn't kill Ros Sovannareth". "It is the wrong allegation against me, "he said.

On January 20, 2009 the coordinator of Martin Annals Award Luis Marreiros infroms us that our president Chea Mony was selected for the MEA 2009 of the five nominess. The Jury will decided who will be the laureate(s).

The Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders (MEA), created in 1993, is granted annually to someone who has demonstrated an exceptional record of combating human rights violations by courageous and innovative means. The award aims at encouraging human rights defenders who are at risk and therefore in need of immediate protection.

Martin Ennals (1927-1991) was instrumental to the modern human rights movement. A fiercely devoted activist, he creatively pursued ideas ahead of his time as the first Secretary-General of Amnesty International and devoted his whole life to human rights.

FTUWKC was shortlisted for the Silver Rose Award in 2008 but was not be awarded after the Silver Rose Jury's decison in 2008. SOLIDAR congratulate FTUWKC for promoting work carried out in the field of social justice. Maurice Claassens of SOLIDAR, charge de mission said "Your nomination was a valuable contribution in the selection process and short listed by the Jury. However, after a long, close and careful evaluation, it is with deep regret that the Jury decided not to award the FTUWKC with a Silver Rose Award 2008"

SOLIDAR is a European network of NGOs and labour movement organisations working towards all people living in dignity. SOLIDAR promotes the principles of solidarity, equality and social justice in the areas of social affairs, international cooperation and education.

With 50 member organisations active in 90 countries worldwide, SOLIDAR works in cooperation with its members, trade unions, political institutions and civil society actors. SOLIDAR aims to influence policy at EU and international level and link members together to learn from each other and carry out projects.

The London based chrity organization One world Action nominates Chea Mony for this Martin Annals Award, granted annually to someone who has demonstrated an exceptional record of combating human rights violations by courageous and innovative means.

Chea Mony was received the Sternberg Award for outstanding contribution to democracy and human rights from One World Action in October 2007.